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Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
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Working memory regulates trait anxiety-related threat processing biases.

Robert W Booth1, Bundy Mackintosh2, Dinkar Sharma3

  • 1Department of Psychology, MEF University.

Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
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Summary

High trait anxiety exaggerates cognitive biases toward threat when working memory is loaded. This suggests impaired executive function may increase anxiety disorder risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • High trait anxiety is linked to biased threat processing.
  • Executive control may regulate these threat biases.
  • Working memory load can impair executive control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if working memory load exacerbates trait anxiety-related cognitive biases.
  • To examine the role of executive control in threat processing in high trait anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • Two studies involving undergraduates assessed threat interpretation and attentional bias under high and low working memory load.
  • Methods included vignette interpretation tasks and a dot probe task with threat stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Trait anxiety predicted biased threat interpretation and attentional bias, but only under high working memory load.
  • Actual eye movements toward threat stimuli were linked to state anxiety, not moderated by working memory load.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive load can worsen trait anxiety-related cognitive biases.
  • Executive control appears to regulate threat processing after initial orienting.
  • Impaired executive control may be a risk factor for anxiety disorders.