Selective attention has been studied extensively and it is shown, for example, that individuals with conditions such as anxiety show attention bias to threat-related stimuli. It has been proposed that humans are predisposed or that it is naturally adaptive to selectively attend to emotional stimuli (Lang, 2000). Similarly, LeDoux (1996) and others have proposed limbic brain networks allowing for quick and automatic, but sometimes inaccurate, processing of emotion which bypasses primary cortical areas. Along these lines, automatic attention bias to subliminal image cues in an adapted Posner Covert Attention Task was examined in the current study. A sample of 64 participants was used in each of three separate experiments to examine how individuals were cued subliminally by negative or positive emotional vs. neutral images and the modulation of covert attention by emotion. Due to automatic or motivated attention to emotionally salient stimuli, participants were expected to be facilitated in task performance by negative and positive emotional image cues, relative to neutral cues. Further, state anxiety and depression were expected to impact performance on emotional cueing as well. As expected in Experiment 1, subliminal images produced significant covert attentional cueing and only negative image cues compared to neutral ones produced response time (RT) reduction by valid cueing across both cue-target delay conditions. Further, cueing differences between neutral and negative images were seen only at short delays, supporting differential subliminal processing of emotional cues in attentional paradigms and supporting previous evidence of unconscious fear processing and specialized automatic fear networks. Moreover, in Experiment 2, when delays following subliminal cues were extended further, emotional cues did not differentially modulate covert attention, suggesting that subliminal emotional cueing seems to occur more immediately. Positive subliminal imagery in Experiment 3 was largely unsuccessful in differentially modulating covert attention compared to neutral cues, suggesting that positive information is either not effective in modulating covert attention or occurs over similar immediate time durations as negative cues in Experiment 1. Finally, the presence of self-reported state anxiety and depression affected task performance, especially in Experiment 1 negative for subliminal discrimination of negative vs. neutral image cues. Overall, the current study adds to the research literature which demonstrates that emotional information, especially negative imagery processed at short intervals, can be processed below awareness to modulate attention in a different manner than less salient neutral stimuli and this modulation is further influenced by state anxiety or depressive symptomatology. Implications of these findings and future directions for research are discussed.

Atenção refere-se ao conjunto de processos que leva à seleção ou processamento preferencial de informações presentes em determinadas porções da rede nervosa. Existem relatos de que músicos exibem melhor desempenho que não-músicos em tarefas que envolvem atenção dado que a tarefa de leitura à primeira vista (de partituras) ativa múltiplas regiões encefálicas, entre elas, áreas envolvidas na orientação da atenção. O presente estudo investigou a orientação encoberta da atenção em músicos capazes de realizar leitura à primeira vista. Investigou ainda, se a continuidade do estudo formal de música ao longo de três anos, depois do ingresso na Universidade (ECA - Escola de Música) produz alterações significativas na memória operacional, avaliada por meio do teste 2-back, em relação a não-músicos que também ingressaram na Universidade, porém em área distinta (Biologia, IB-USP) que não envolve música. Os resultados no teste de atenção encoberta mostraram que não-músicos exibem assimetrias na orientação da atenção visuo-espacial; seu tempo de reação para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo direito é significantemente menor que o observado para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo esquerdo. Ademais, não-músicos exibem efeito de validade apenas para estímulos-alvo apresentados no hemicampo direito. Em músicos, não houve diferenças significantes nos tempos de reação a estímulos apresentados nos hemicampos direito e esquerdo; esses tempos foram significantemente menores que os exibidos pelos não-músicos, para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo esquerdo. Não obstante essa diferença, os músicos também exibiram efeito de validade apenas para estímulos-alvo apresentados no hemicampo direito. Não houve diferenças significantes de desempenho entre músicos e não-músicos no teste de memória operacional. Assim, o estudo formal de música parece relacionar-se com alterações nos processos de orientação da atenção. / Attention corresponds to selection or preferential processing of information maintained in certain portions of the neural network. Musicians seem to exhibit better performance relative to non-musicians in attention-dependent tasks, which is ascribed to sight-reading of scores that activates multiple brain regions, including areas involved on orienting of attention. The present study investigated covert orienting of visual attention in people exposed to prolonged study of music, thus becoming capable of sight-reading. In addition, we investigated if continuation of formal music study after getting into the University (School of Music) leads to significant chance in working memory, as evaluated by the 2-back test involving letters, relative to non-musicians that also get into the University but in a distinct area (Biology). The results in the covert attention test showed that non-musicians exhibit an asymmetry in visuo-spatial orienting of attention; their reaction times for target-stimuli presented in the right hemifield were significantly smaller than those observed for stimuli presented in the left hemifield. In addition, non-musicians exhibited validity effect only for target-stimuli presented in the right hemifield. In contrast, musicians did not exhibit significant differences in reaction times for target stimuli presented in the left or right hemifields; however, these reaction times were smaller than those seen for non-musicians for stimuli presented in the left hemifield. Despite this difference, musicians also exhibited an asymmetry, that is, their validity effect was also restricted to target stimuli presented in the right hemifield. Musicians and non-musicians did not differ in the working memory test. Together, these results indicate that formal music study relates with changes in the processes of orienting of attention.

Atenção refere-se ao conjunto de processos que leva à seleção ou processamento preferencial de informações presentes em determinadas porções da rede nervosa. Existem relatos de que músicos exibem melhor desempenho que não-músicos em tarefas que envolvem atenção dado que a tarefa de leitura à primeira vista (de partituras) ativa múltiplas regiões encefálicas, entre elas, áreas envolvidas na orientação da atenção. O presente estudo investigou a orientação encoberta da atenção em músicos capazes de realizar leitura à primeira vista. Investigou ainda, se a continuidade do estudo formal de música ao longo de três anos, depois do ingresso na Universidade (ECA - Escola de Música) produz alterações significativas na memória operacional, avaliada por meio do teste 2-back, em relação a não-músicos que também ingressaram na Universidade, porém em área distinta (Biologia, IB-USP) que não envolve música. Os resultados no teste de atenção encoberta mostraram que não-músicos exibem assimetrias na orientação da atenção visuo-espacial; seu tempo de reação para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo direito é significantemente menor que o observado para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo esquerdo. Ademais, não-músicos exibem efeito de validade apenas para estímulos-alvo apresentados no hemicampo direito. Em músicos, não houve diferenças significantes nos tempos de reação a estímulos apresentados nos hemicampos direito e esquerdo; esses tempos foram significantemente menores que os exibidos pelos não-músicos, para estímulos apresentados no hemicampo esquerdo. Não obstante essa diferença, os músicos também exibiram efeito de validade apenas para estímulos-alvo apresentados no hemicampo direito. Não houve diferenças significantes de desempenho entre músicos e não-músicos no teste de memória operacional. Assim, o estudo formal de música parece relacionar-se com alterações nos processos de orientação da atenção. / Attention corresponds to selection or preferential processing of information maintained in certain portions of the neural network. Musicians seem to exhibit better performance relative to non-musicians in attention-dependent tasks, which is ascribed to sight-reading of scores that activates multiple brain regions, including areas involved on orienting of attention. The present study investigated covert orienting of visual attention in people exposed to prolonged study of music, thus becoming capable of sight-reading. In addition, we investigated if continuation of formal music study after getting into the University (School of Music) leads to significant chance in working memory, as evaluated by the 2-back test involving letters, relative to non-musicians that also get into the University but in a distinct area (Biology). The results in the covert attention test showed that non-musicians exhibit an asymmetry in visuo-spatial orienting of attention; their reaction times for target-stimuli presented in the right hemifield were significantly smaller than those observed for stimuli presented in the left hemifield. In addition, non-musicians exhibited validity effect only for target-stimuli presented in the right hemifield. In contrast, musicians did not exhibit significant differences in reaction times for target stimuli presented in the left or right hemifields; however, these reaction times were smaller than those seen for non-musicians for stimuli presented in the left hemifield. Despite this difference, musicians also exhibited an asymmetry, that is, their validity effect was also restricted to target stimuli presented in the right hemifield. Musicians and non-musicians did not differ in the working memory test. Together, these results indicate that formal music study relates with changes in the processes of orienting of attention.

Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by irrational and persistent fears of potential evaluation and scrutiny by others. For socially anxious youth, the core, maladaptive cognition is fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Whereas Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets remediation of intense and unfounded FNE, Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) targets attention bias. The degree to which FNE and biased attention are related processes is unknown. This study sought to assess the relationship between FNE and two indices of attention bias (dot probe and eye-tracking). In addition, this study examines differences in attention bias between a clinically confirmed group of youth SAD and healthy controls. A significant group difference in average latency to fixate on angry faces was found [F(1,65) = 31.94, p < .001, ηp2 = .33]. However, the pattern was not consistent across the other attention bias metrics (i.e., dot probe bias scores and first fixation direction percentage towards angry faces). In addition, associations between FNE and the attention bias metrics were not statistically significant in either group. Future directions and implications of these findings within the context of refinements to existing interventions are discussed. / Master of Science / Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by irrational and persistent fears of potential evaluation and scrutiny by others. For socially anxious youth, a main feature of the disorder is fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Whereas Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets FNE, Attention Bias Modification Treatment (ABMT) targets attention bias. However, the degree to which FNE and biased attention are related processes has not been studied. This study examined the relationship between FNE and two indices of attention bias (dot probe and eye-tracking). This study also examines differences in attention bias between a youth with SAD and healthy youth (no psychological diagnoses). Group differences were found for only one attention bias measure (i.e., youth with SAD were quicker to look at anger faces relative to non-anxious youth). In addition, associations between FNE and the attention bias metrics were not statistically significant in either group. Future directions of these findings are discussed.

L'interaction des individus avec l'environnement statique ou dynamique nécessite une exploration détaillée et précise des objets. Pour cela, notre système oculomoteur produit des mouvements oculaires rapides et précis appelés « saccades » afin de ramener l’image des objets d’intérêt sur la petite zone centrale de notre rétine (fovéa). Toutefois, notre système oculomoteur est fréquemment exposé à des perturbations physiologiques ou pathologiques. Ces changements sont contrôlés en permanence par des processus sensori moteurs basés sur la plasticité neuronale et appelés adaptation saccadique. L’objectif de mes travaux de thèse est de mieux comprendre les caractéristiques de cette adaptation et sa rétention à long terme mais aussi les réseaux impliqués dans l’adaptation saccadique. Comme les saccades oculaires ont un lien étroit avec l’attention visuo-spatiale, notre intérêt s’est également porté sur les interactions qui peuvent exister avec les réseaux impliqués dans le contrôle de l’attention visuo-spatiale. Un des principaux résultats est que l’orientation de l’attention exogène covert -sans bouger les yeuxdans des taches de détection et de discrimination est améliorée après l’adaptation des saccades réactives. Ces données fondamentales pourraient mener au développement de nouvelles méthodes de rééducation des déficits visuo-attentionnels / The interaction of human beings with their static or dynamic environment requires detailed and precise exploration of objects. For this, our oculomotor system produces fast and accurate eye movements called "saccades" to bring the image of objects of interest on the small central area of the retina (fovea). However, our oculomotor system is frequently exposed to physiological or pathological disturbances. These changes are continuously monitored by sensorimotor processes based on neuronal plasticity and called "saccadic adaptation". The aim of my thesis is to better understand the characteristics of this adaptation and its long-term retention but also the neural networks involved in saccadic adaptation. As saccadic eye movements are closely related to visuo-spatial attention our work has also addressed the interactions that may exist with the networks involved in the control of visuo-spatial attention. A major result revealed that the orientation of the 'covert' exogenous attention -without moving the eyes- in detection and discrimination tasks is improved after adaptation of reactive saccades. These basic data could give rise to the development of new rehabilitation methods in visual-attention deficits

Anxiety can be advantageous in terms of survival and well-being, yet atypically high levels may be maladaptive and result in the clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Several risk factors have been implicated in the manifestation of clinical anxiety, including cognitive biases. In recent years, a plethora of research has emerged demonstrating that anxious adults exhibit biases of attention for threatening stimuli, especially that which is biologically relevant (e.g., facial expressions). Specific components of attentional bias have also been identified, namely facilitated engagement, impaired disengagement, and avoidance. However, the majority of studies have focused on the spatial domain of attention. Furthermore, the area is under-researched in children, despite research demonstrating that symptoms relating to clinical and non-clinical anxiety follow a stable course from childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. Consequently, the aim of this thesis was to investigate how anxiety affects children’s visual attention for emotive, particularly angry, faces. In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding, the current research involved examining the role of temporal and spatial attention utilising rapid serial visual presentation with the attentional blink, and the visual probe paradigm, respectively. The main hypothesis was that high state and/or trait anxiety would be associated with an attentional bias for angry, relative to positive or neutral faces in both the temporal and spatial domains. In relation to the temporal domain, key findings demonstrated that high levels of trait anxiety were associated with facilitated engagement towards both angry and neutral faces. It was further found that all children rapidly disengaged attention away from angry faces. Findings related to the processing of angry faces accorded with the main hypothesis stated in this thesis, as well as research and theory in the area. The finding that anxious children preferentially processed neutral faces in an attentional blink investigation was unexpected. This was argued to potentially reflect this stimulus type being interpreted as threatening. Key findings regarding the spatial domain were that high trait anxious children displayed an early covert bias of attention away from happy faces and a later, overt bias of attention away from angry faces. The finding that high trait anxiety was linked to an attentional bias away from happy faces in a visual probe task was also unexpected. This was argued to potentially reflect smiling faces being interpreted as signifying social dominance, thus resulting in the viewer experiencing feelings of subordination and becoming avoidant and/or submissive. To conclude, this thesis has enhanced current knowledge of attentional bias in both the temporal and spatial domains for emotive stimuli in anxious children. It has demonstrated that higher levels of trait anxiety moderate children’s allocation of attentional resources to different stimulus types, whether these are threatening, positive, or neutral. This has important implications for evaluating past research in adults and children, and for further developing theoretical models of attentional bias and anxiety. It also offers important clinical implications, since attending towards or away from specific stimuli may affect the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Recently, a treatment that aims to modify attentional bias in anxious individuals has begun to be developed. In light of the present findings, it may be necessary to review this treatment so that anxious children are re-trained in the specific biases of attention demonstrated here.