Stimulus Exposure Duration in a Deployment-of-Attention Task: Effects on Dysphoric, Recently Dysphoric, and Nondysphoric Individuals

Abstract

Examined attentional deployment of dysphoric, unstable, and stable nondysphoric individuals using the Deployment-of-Attention Task (DOAT) while randomly varying stimulus exposure durations. Previous research indicates a nondepressed “protective” bias in attention whereas depressed individuals evidence no bias. The current study examined the possibility that depressed participants' lack of bias may actually reflect inattention to briefly presented stimuli, possibly due to slowed processing seen in depression (i.e. psychomotor retardation). Participants completed the DOAT, viewing stimuli at four presentation durations randomised across trials. Results indicated that dysphoric participants displayed no attentional bias even at extended presentation durations, whereas nondysphoric participants showed a “protective” bias. Within the nondysphoric group, unstable nondysphoric participants displayed a more pronounced protective bias than did stable nondysphorics.