The effects of distraction on threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control could be modified using distraction. Healthy young adults (N=21) stood without (No Threat) and with (Threat) the possibility of receiving an unpredictable anterior or posterior support surface translation under conditions in which they were required to perform or not perform a distractor task. The results of the thesis showed significant threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control independent of distraction. When performing with distraction compared to without, threat-related changes in high-frequency sway (1.0-2.5 Hz) were significantly reduced, and threat-related changes in attention focus to self-regulatory strategies tended to be reduced. These findings suggest that distraction may modify threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Sc. Applied Health Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Applied Health Sciences Program

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Watson, Alexander

• postural control
• threat
• emotion
• attention focus
• distraction

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14011

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/14011