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The Attentional Set Shifting Task: A Measure of Cognitive Flexibility in Mice
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Cognitive bias modification of inferential flexibility.

Baruch Perlman1, Nilly Mor2

  • 1Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University, Israel.

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|June 6, 2022
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Summary

This study shows that cognitive bias modification training enhances inferential flexibility. This training improves mood and reduces rumination by helping individuals shift from negative to positive inferences.

Keywords:
Cognitive bias modificationCognitive styleInferential flexibilityMoodRumination

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Clinical psychology

Background:

  • Negative inferential styles are linked to mood disorders.
  • Inferential flexibility may be a target for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of a cognitive bias modification procedure in enhancing inferential flexibility.
  • To examine the impact of this procedure on mood and state rumination.

Main Methods:

  • Participants engaged in a training or control condition involving scenario-based inferences.
  • The training condition focused on shifting from negative to positive inferences.
  • The control condition involved inferences of consistent valence.

Main Results:

  • The training successfully induced inferential shifts (d = 0.72).
  • Trained participants showed greater ability to shift away from negative inferences for personal events (d = 1) and generated fewer negative inferences (d = 0.61).
  • Improved mood and reduced state rumination were observed in the trained group.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive bias modification can effectively enhance inferential flexibility.
  • Shifting away from negative inferences towards positive ones offers a potential strategy to mitigate adverse psychological effects.