Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information
IntroductionThe aim of the present research was to examine the role of affective information in the functioning of attentional networks in individuals with high vs. low trait or state anxiety. Previous studies suggest that anxiety can influence attentional processes, but the impact of affective info...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539992/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849394873509085184 |
|---|---|
| author | Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Alberto Acosta Alberto Acosta Juan Lupiáñez Juan Lupiáñez |
| author_facet | Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Alberto Acosta Alberto Acosta Juan Lupiáñez Juan Lupiáñez |
| author_sort | Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe aim of the present research was to examine the role of affective information in the functioning of attentional networks in individuals with high vs. low trait or state anxiety. Previous studies suggest that anxiety can influence attentional processes, but the impact of affective information, such as alerting emotional stimuli, on these attentional networks remains unclear.MethodsWe conducted a set of experiments using negative or neutral faces as alerting stimuli, presented either alone or together with a neutral sound, within a modified version of the Attention Network Test-Interactions (ANT-I). Additionally, data from previous experiments with similar anxiety groups and without affective manipulations of alertness were analyzed for comparative insights (378 participants in total).ResultsResults showed three main effects on the functioning of attentional networks when affective alerting signals were introduced: (1) the alertness effect is increased, (2) the interference effect is increased, and (3) the orienting effect is decreased. These effects occurred regardless of the valence of the alerting stimuli on a given trial. Importantly, the presence of affective information on some trials eliminated the group differences regarding the functioning of the attentional networks that are usually found when no affective information is presented. Specifically, the larger interference effect commonly observed in individuals with high trait-anxiety and the larger alertness and orienting effects seen in those with high state-anxiety, disappeared when emotional alerting stimuli were included.DiscussionThe findings suggest that emotional information can significantly impact the functioning of attentional networks, particularly in relation to anxiety. The presence of affective stimuli seems to modulate attentional biases associated with anxiety, potentially neutralizing the usual effects seen in individuals with high trait or state anxiety. The role of affective information on the functioning of the attentional networks is discussed within the framework of anxiety and attention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9ddd6073fda4e9e888fd6298c70bee2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9ddd6073fda4e9e888fd6298c70bee22025-08-20T03:39:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-03-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15399921539992Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective informationAntonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti0Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti1Alberto Acosta2Alberto Acosta3Juan Lupiáñez4Juan Lupiáñez5Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatment, University of Granada, Granada, SpainMind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, SpainMind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainMind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, SpainDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainIntroductionThe aim of the present research was to examine the role of affective information in the functioning of attentional networks in individuals with high vs. low trait or state anxiety. Previous studies suggest that anxiety can influence attentional processes, but the impact of affective information, such as alerting emotional stimuli, on these attentional networks remains unclear.MethodsWe conducted a set of experiments using negative or neutral faces as alerting stimuli, presented either alone or together with a neutral sound, within a modified version of the Attention Network Test-Interactions (ANT-I). Additionally, data from previous experiments with similar anxiety groups and without affective manipulations of alertness were analyzed for comparative insights (378 participants in total).ResultsResults showed three main effects on the functioning of attentional networks when affective alerting signals were introduced: (1) the alertness effect is increased, (2) the interference effect is increased, and (3) the orienting effect is decreased. These effects occurred regardless of the valence of the alerting stimuli on a given trial. Importantly, the presence of affective information on some trials eliminated the group differences regarding the functioning of the attentional networks that are usually found when no affective information is presented. Specifically, the larger interference effect commonly observed in individuals with high trait-anxiety and the larger alertness and orienting effects seen in those with high state-anxiety, disappeared when emotional alerting stimuli were included.DiscussionThe findings suggest that emotional information can significantly impact the functioning of attentional networks, particularly in relation to anxiety. The presence of affective stimuli seems to modulate attentional biases associated with anxiety, potentially neutralizing the usual effects seen in individuals with high trait or state anxiety. The role of affective information on the functioning of the attentional networks is discussed within the framework of anxiety and attention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539992/fulltrait-anxietystate-anxietyattentional networksaffective manipulationsalerting network |
| spellingShingle | Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Antonia Pilar Pacheco-Unguetti Alberto Acosta Alberto Acosta Juan Lupiáñez Juan Lupiáñez Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information Frontiers in Psychology trait-anxiety state-anxiety attentional networks affective manipulations alerting network |
| title | Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information |
| title_full | Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information |
| title_short | Characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety: the role of affective information |
| title_sort | characterizing the functioning of the attentional networks in state and trait anxiety the role of affective information |
| topic | trait-anxiety state-anxiety attentional networks affective manipulations alerting network |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539992/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antoniapilarpachecounguetti characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation AT antoniapilarpachecounguetti characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation AT albertoacosta characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation AT albertoacosta characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation AT juanlupianez characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation AT juanlupianez characterizingthefunctioningoftheattentionalnetworksinstateandtraitanxietytheroleofaffectiveinformation |