Investigating automatic processing preference in high trait anxiety individuals: Behavioral and neuroelectrophysiological evidence

Abstract

The Trait Anxiety Attention Control Theory suggests an imbalance in high trait anxiety individuals between bottom-up and top-down processing. To investigate this theory, we designed an experimental paradigm combining task-switching and Stroop tasks to investigate behavioral and neuroelectrophysiological features in trait anxiety. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between trait anxiety levels and switch costs, indicating a preference for automatic processing among those with high trait anxiety. Additionally, the EEG findings demonstrated that individuals with high trait anxiety exhibit a preference for automatic processing, as evidenced by the N4 latency and increased beta power during switch tasks. The consistency of these results across behavioral, ERPs, and time–frequency analyses suggests a propensity for automatic processing in high trait anxiety individuals, disrupting the equilibrium between top-down and bottom-up processes. This research offers empirical support for the Attention Control Theory, enhancing our comprehension of behavioral deviations and neural mechanisms in trait anxiety.