Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Attention Distortion with Social Anxiety: A Flanker Problem Experiment

DOI

10.2991/iceder-19.2020.57How to use a DOI?

Keywords

social anxiety, social anxiety disorder, neurocognitive mechanisms, Eriksen flanker task, facial expressions, electroencephalogram (EEG), eye-tracking, threat monitoring, self-focus, distortion of attention, error-related negativity (ERN)

Abstract

The aim of the presented research is to study the neurocognitive mechanisms of attention distortion with social anxiety (SA). An experiment using the modified Eriksen flanker task is implemented. Facial expressions (congruent and incongruent stimulus sequences) are used as stimuli. When solving a problem, the SA severity, errors, or correct decisions, and the sequence of stimuli vary. The integrative platform “EEG + eye tracking” is used; it has the ability to synchronously register parameters and analyze activity in dynamics. During the experiment, we recorded the stimulus, time, and correctness of the response, parameters of oculomotor activity, as well as the EEG (error-related negativity, ERN). When low and high levels of SA are compared, we find a greater deviation from the target priority for the distractors, an increase in solution time, and a decreasing number of correct decisions (especially under incongruent conditions), as well as a greater frequency and duration of fixations, a total number and amplitude of saccades, an increased target detection period. In the case of erroneous decisions, the ERN component is excessively expressed in subjects with SA. The indicators found are the measures of the neurocognitive mechanisms of SA that characterize the features of distortion of attention and information processing in the context of evaluating target activities (threat monitoring, self-focusing, decreased productivity, multitasking).

Copyright

© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - O A Sagalakova
AU  - D V Truevtsev
AU  - A V Tinekov
AU  - O V Zhirnova
PY  - 2020/01
DA  - 2020/01
TI  - Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Attention Distortion with Social Anxiety: A Flanker Problem Experiment
BT  - Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference on Education, Health and Human Wellbeing (ICEDER 2019)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 270
EP  - 275
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/iceder-19.2020.57
DO  - 10.2991/iceder-19.2020.57
ID  - Sagalakova2020/01
ER  -