The influence of emotive visual stimulation and anxiety on attention biases and memory

Literacy: Many studies have been showing that anxious individuals display attention biases including preferential engagement, difficulty in disengagement, or attention avoidance. Research in patients suggests that pathological anxiety may specifically impair spatial short-term and long- term episodic memory. Recently, many authors have emphasized the role of aversive stimulation on attention, working memory and anxiety. Purpose: The present study investigated the influence of anxiety on memory and attention, to contribute to our understanding of the anxiety effects on cognitive function. Methods: 130 students were included in this study (57 male and 73 female). Procedure: Each subject completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). After this measure, only 41 participants with the highest (n=21) and the lowest (n=20) levels of anxiety complete the Trail Making Test A-B, Attentive Matrices Test, Babcock Story Recall Test and Short-Term Visual Memory Test. Results: Less anxious participants showed best memory capacity and less attention biases than more anxious participants.