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Global-local visual processing in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Jennifer J Vasterling·Lisa M Duke·Holly Tomlin·Natasha Lowery·Edith Kaplan
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine a behavioral index of hemispheric asymmetry (i.e., visual hierarchical attention) in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder characterized by anxiety and other emotional symptoms. A reaction time based, computerized, global-local visual paradigm was administered to 26 PTSD-diagnosed and 22 psychopathology-free right-handed, male Vietnam War zone veterans. Results indicated that PTSD-diagnosed veterans displayed slower reaction times to all targets than the no-mental disorders comparison sample. However, findings also revealed a Group x Target location interaction in which the PTSD group was slower than the no-disorders comparison sample to respond to local, but not global, targets. Moreover, relative global bias was greater among PTSD-diagnosed veterans than their no-diagnosis counterparts. Findings provide partial support for the hypothesis that PTSD may be associated with a functional cerebral asymmetry favoring the right hemisphere.

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Analysis of VarianceAttentionCombat DisordersFunctional LateralityHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsPersonality InventoryPhotic StimulationPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesReaction TimeStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticVeteransVisual PerceptionComparative StudyJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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Jennifer J Vasterling, Lisa M Duke, Holly Tomlin, Natasha Lowery, Edith Kaplan. 2004. Global-local visual processing in posttraumatic stress disorder.. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355617704105031

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