Key result
Anhedonic subjects exhibited longer reaction times that increased with time-on-task and greater intra-subject variability compared to controls during the Eriksen response competition task.
Why the study?
Does trait anhedonia affect sustained attention and reaction time during a cognitive task?
Case-Control
Does trait anhedonia affect sustained attention and reaction time during a cognitive task?
Trait anhedonia is associated with longer reaction times and greater intra-subject variability over time during sustained attention tasks, suggesting a more rapid decrease in energetical resources.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Trait anhedonia may impair sustained attention; supports consensus on cognitive deficits but leaves open clinical relevance.
The capacity to sustain attention was explored in a sample of anhedonic subjects according to the Chapman physical anhedonia scale. Sustained attention was determined by studying task-induced changes over the duration of the Eriksen response competition task [Percept. Psychophys. 16 (1974) 143]. Anhedonic subjects had longer reaction times (RTs), but missed no more targets than control subjects. Anhedonic subject RTs got longer with time-on-task (TOT) and displayed greater intra-subject variability. These results confirm those of a previous study indicating that anhedonic subjects may have developed a more conservative response strategy [Psychophysiology 37 (2000) 711] and suggest that this strategy may result in a more rapid decrease in energetical resources. Moreover, the greater intra-subject variability demonstrates the importance of assessing performance over time and its relationship to the variability of responses in the cognitive performance of anhedonic subjects.
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Dubal et al. (2004) conducted a case-control in Trait anhedonia. Eriksen response competition task vs. Control subjects was evaluated on Reaction times and target misses over time-on-task. Anhedonic subjects exhibited longer reaction times that increased with time-on-task and greater intra-subject variability compared to controls during the Eriksen response competition task.
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