Attentional processes in posttraumatic stress disorder and the associated changes in neural functioning
Stefanie R Block1, Israel Liberzon1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Experimental Neurology
|May 15, 2016
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves attention changes. Future research should integrate behavioral and neural measures to clarify attention deficits in PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is linked to attention impairments at behavioral and neural levels.
- Existing attention tests in PTSD research yield conflicting findings due to limitations in isolating mechanisms and mapping constructs to neurocircuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on attention processing in PTSD.
- To propose future research directions for clarifying attention abnormalities in PTSD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining attention in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
- Discussion of methodological improvements for attention assessment.
Main Results:
- Current attention measures in PTSD research are insufficient to pinpoint specific deficits.
- Conflicting findings may stem from a lack of focus on intra-individual variability and inadequate integration of behavioral and neural data.
Conclusions:
- Future research must employ instruments assessing both behavioral and neurophysiological attention components.
- Incorporating intra-individual variability and longitudinal designs is crucial.
- Integrating behavioral and neural measures will enhance understanding of PTSD pathophysiology.
Keywords:
AttentionAttentional biasCognitive abilityFunctional magnetic resonance imagingIntraindividual variabilityNeural networksNeuropsychological assessmentPTSDPost-traumatic stressTraumaMore Related Videos
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