Attentional control theory: Anxiety, emotion, and motor planning

Abstract The present study investigated how trait anxiety alters the balance between attentional control systems to impact performance of a discrete preplanned goal-directed motor task. Participants executed targeted force contractions (engaging the goal-directed attentional system) at the offset of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of anxiety disorders 2009-12, Vol.23 (8), p.1072-1079
Main Authors: Coombes, Stephen A, Higgins, Torrie, Gamble, Kelly M, Cauraugh, James H, Janelle, Christopher M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Affect
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Arousal
Attention
Attentional processes
Biological and medical sciences
Cues
Emotions
Female
Force production
Humans
Individuality
Inhibition
Isometric Contraction
Male
Medical sciences
Pattern Recognition, Visual
Pinch Strength
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Reaction Time
Reaction times
Trait anxiety
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract The present study investigated how trait anxiety alters the balance between attentional control systems to impact performance of a discrete preplanned goal-directed motor task. Participants executed targeted force contractions (engaging the goal-directed attentional system) at the offset of emotional and non-emotional distractors (engaging the stimulus-driven attentional system). High and low anxious participants completed the protocol at two target force levels (10% and 35% of maximum voluntary contraction). Reaction time (RT), performance accuracy, and rate of change of force were calculated. Expectations were confirmed at the 10% but not the 35% target force level: (1) high anxiety was associated with slower RTs, and (2) threat cues lead to faster RTs independently of trait anxiety. These new findings suggest that motor efficiency, but not motor effectiveness is compromised in high relative to low anxious individuals. We conclude that increased stimulus-driven attentional control interferes with movements that require greater attentional resources.
ISSN:0887-6185
1873-7897
DOI:10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.07.009