Effects of Cognitive Load on Attentional Bias under Stress Induction

Background: This study investigated whether visuo-spatial cognitive load modulates threat-related attentional bias during an experimentally induced stress state. Specifically, we examined whether increasing task demand influences threat-related attentional bias, as well as orientation and disengagement components.Methods: Seventy-two undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to either a stress-induction group or a control group. After viewing a road-traffic-accident video, participants completed a dot-probe task incorporating three levels of visuo-spatial task demand (no load, low load, high load). From this task, a standard Attentional Bias Index (sABI), an Orientation Index (OI), and a Disengagement Index (DI) were calculated.Results: The main effect of group was significant for both sABI and OI, indicating that across all visuo-spatial load conditions, the stress-induction group demonstrated greater threat-related attentional bias and stronger orientation toward threat than the control group. In contrast, neither the main effect of visuo-spatial task demand nor the Group×Demand interaction reached significance for sABI or OI. For DI, there were no significant group differences, no main effect of visuo-spatial task demand, and no significant interaction, suggesting that disengagement from threat did not differ between groups and was not influenced by cognitive load.Conclusions: Under stress induction, the stress-induction group consistently showed heightened threat-related attentional bias and increased orientation toward threat compared with the control group, regardless of visuo-spatial load level. These findings carry theoretical and clinical implications, underscoring the importance of distinguishing among attentional-bias components—particularly orientation—when conceptualizing and addressing stress-related attentional processes.