Threat-related attentional bias in individuals with different looming cognitive styles: An ERP study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of looming cognitive styles (LCS) on threat-related attentional bias by comparing the characteristics of threatening and neutral images in subjects with different LCS.

Methods: The Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ) was administered to 200 college students to assess their anxiety vulnerability. Based on their scores, participants were categorized into high looming cognitive style (high-LCS) and low looming cognitive style (low-LCS) groups. Attention allocation to threatening picture information was examined using a dot-probe and event-related potentials (ERPs) technology, comparing the effects of different types of pictures on attentional bias.

Results: (1) Significant differences in attentional bias for threat information were observed between high-LCS and low-LCS groups, with high-LCS individuals exhibiting stronger attentional bias toward threat information; (2) ERP components (N100, P200, and P300) showed significant differences between high-LCS and low-LCS groups, with high-LCS individuals displaying higher volatility in these components.

Conclusion: The between-group pattern in reaction time and ERP waveforms suggests that the high-LCS group exhibited heightened alertness and attentional preference toward threat information, and invested great investment of psychological resources in processing threatening information.