The current investigation examined the effects of a differential attentional training task on subsequent emotional reactivity in response to a task that was aimed to either induce positive or negative affectivity. Specifically, the study employed a dot-probe attentional training paradigm to train attention toward positive images (Attend-Positive condition), toward neutral images (Attend-Neutral condition), or to not train attention at all (Control condition). The hypothesis was that individuals whose attention was trained toward positive images would exhibit faster response times toward positive images (compared to the Attend-Neutral and Control conditions) at post assessment, individuals whose attention was trained toward neutral images would exhibit faster response times toward neutral images (compared to the Attend-Positive and Control conditions) at post assessment, and individuals in the Control condition would maintain similar response times from baseline to post assessment, aside from general practice effects. It was also hypothesized that those in the Attend-Positive condition would better regulate emotion, as measured by less negative affect in response to a stress task and more positive affect in response to a positive mood induction task, compared to individuals who have engaged in a control task involving no attentional bias training (Control condition). It was also hypothesized that those in the Attend-Neutral condition would better regulate emotion, as measured by less negative affect in response to a stress task and more positive affect in response to a positive mood induction task, compared to individuals who have engaged in a control task involving no attentional bias training (Control condition). Last, it was hypothesized that individuals in the Attend-Positive condition would report differentially less negative affect in response to the stress task (failure anagrams) than those in the Attend-Neutral condition, and that individuals in the Attend-Positive condition would report differentially more positive affect in response to the positive mood induction task (success anagrams) than those in the Attend-Neutral condition. In all conditions, the dot-probe attentional training did not effectively modify biases in the hypothesized directions. While there was differential affectivity change for individuals who underwent a Failure Anagram task versus a Success Anagram task, there is no way to definitively interpret the meaning of these changes given the failure of the attentional manipulation. The findings from the current investigation provide no evidence for single-session dot-probe attentional bias modification procedures to manipulate attentional bias toward positive stimuli or toward neutral stimuli. Possible explanations for these results, including lack of reliability of the dot-probe task, are discussed.

Selective attention to dysphoric stimuli is hypothesized to contribute to the onset and maintenance of emotional disorders. Over the past two decades, research on training and modifying attention as a form of treatment for anxiety and depression, Attentional Bias Modification (ABM) treatment, has increased exponentially. ABM has been employed in research and clinical settings with varying levels of success due to vast heterogeneity among studies. The primary aims of the present study were to examine the effects of different training contingencies, stimulus pairs, and moderators (baseline attentional bias, self-report trait anxiety, and attentional control) on stress reactivity and recovery. Undergraduates (N = 376) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: four attention conditions each unique in training contingency and stimulus pair, and one control condition. Participants completed self-report measures, a pre-assessment of attention, one of the five conditions, a post-assessment of attention, and a stress induction. Results suggest stimulus types in AMB paradigms have a greater impact on stress responses relative to training contingencies. Participants with high levels of anxiety showed reduced stress recovery after conditions with negative stimuli. Participants with high levels of depression showed less stress reactivity after conditions with emotional stimuli. Attentional control and trait anxiety moderated stress responses. The current findings may be important in advancing ABM treatment by highlighting the significance of including emotional stimuli in ABM paradigms and tailoring treatment with baseline characteristics.

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