Trait anxiety and attention : behavioural and ERP measures of attentional networks

High trait anxiety may influence attention via enhanced stimulus-driven processing and disrupted goal-directed attentional control. Evidence from the Attentional Network Model has contradicted the purported two-way nature of these effects, but there is a lack of research utilising this framework. This study used the Attention Network Test to examine the behavioural (response time and accuracy) and electrophysiological correlates (N1 and P3 ERP components) of the attentional networks in adults high (n=17) and low (n=15) in trait anxiety, aged 18-35. The null hypothesis was supported for alerting and orienting, suggesting trait anxiety is unrelated to behavioural and ERP data measures of these networks. While initial analyses did not detect a relationship between trait anxiety and executive control, supplementary analyses with groups comprised of more heterogenous trait anxiety scores suggest a negative relationship is likely to emerge given adequate sample size. High trait anxiety was associated with reduced overall frontal P3 amplitude, although the modulation of this ERP component during executive control engagement remains unclear. These results provide preliminary supporting evidence that high trait anxiety is related to top-down attentional processing only. Future research could clarify the electrophysiological changes underlying the behavioural executive control deficits seen in high trait anxiety.