Effect of self-focused attention on the startle reflex, heart rate, and memory performance among socially anxious and nonanxious individuals.
The present study examined the effect of self-focused attention on the startle reflex and heart rate and assessed the assumption that socially anxious individuals become self-focused in evaluative situations. Twenty-five high and 30 low socially anxious men performed a digit recall task under evaluative or nonevaluative instructions. Half of the trials were performed under self-focused conditions and half under non-self-focused conditions. Self-focus led to larger startle responses among socially anxious individuals and had no effect on heart rate. Self-focus combined with evaluation led to poorer recall performance among all subjects. Results provide evidence against a directional change in attention during self-focused attention and favor the view that self-focus increases access to self-relevant thought content and decreases available processing resources.
Panayiotou
G
G
Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Vrana
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*