Anxiety and dynamic adjustments in cognitive stimulus processing

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Johannes Hewig, since 9/2016
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2011 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 213312394

Anxiety as an affective state or personality trait influences the perception and cognitive processing of environmental stimuli. Accordingly, previous research has repeatedly demonstrated that anxiety is linked to fundamental cognitive functions. In the present project we aim to further specify this relation, focussing on dynamic adjustments in stimulus processing and using experimental-psychological and neuroscientific methods. Most importantly, we assume that functioning of the cognitive system at a given timepoint is not invariant but rather dynamically adapts to the preceding context. In the first funding period we investigated such adaptations in attentional and expectancy-related neurocognitive mechanims and their relation to anxiety. In the second project period we aim to investigate whether the relation between anxiety and dynamic processes of attentional control is modulated by cognitive load. In sum, this project may substantially further our understanding of the link between anxiety and cogntive mechanisms of stimulus processing.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Roman Osinsky, until 8/2016