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Investigating automatic processing preference in high trait anxiety individuals: Behavioral and
Huili Xing1, Ronglian Zheng2, Yining Kou1
1Department of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003 Henan Province, China; Mental Illness and Cognitive Neuroscience Key Laboratory of Xinxiang (Xinxiang Medical University), Xinxiang 453003 Henan Province, China.
Abstract:
The Trait Anxiety Attention Control Theory suggests an imbalance in high trait anxiety individuals between bottom-up and top-down processing. To investigate this theory, we designed an experimental paradigm combining task-switching and Stroop tasks to investigate behavioral and neuroelectrophysiological features in trait anxiety. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between trait anxiety levels and switch costs, indicating a preference for automatic processing among those with high trait anxiety. Additionally, the EEG findings demonstrated that individuals with high trait anxiety exhibit a preference for automatic processing, as evidenced by the N4 latency and increased beta power during switch tasks. The consistency of these results across behavioral, ERPs, and time-frequency analyses suggests a propensity for automatic processing in high trait anxiety individuals, disrupting the equilibrium between top-down and bottom-up processes. This research offers empirical support for the Attention Control Theory, enhancing our comprehension of behavioral deviations and neural mechanisms in trait anxiety.
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