Impact of Visual Masking on Attentional Bias in Cross‐Sectional Clinical and Healthy Populations: Differences in Conscious and Unconscious Processing of Alcohol‐Related Cues

Key Points

• This research aims to investigate how visual masking influences attentional bias towards alcohol-related cues in different populations.
• Cross-sectional design involving clinical and healthy participants.
• Utilized visual masking techniques to assess attentional bias.
• Analyzed both conscious and unconscious processing of alcohol-related cues.
• Found that attentional bias for alcohol cues is significantly influenced by conscious processing.
• Demonstrated a clear distinction in processing mechanisms between the clinical and healthy populations.
• Highlighted the importance of top-down factors in addiction-related attentional processes.