Speaker
Abstract
Background & Objectives:
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes that occur as a result of struggling with adversity. Research suggests that individuals with high PTG exhibit an attentional bias towards positive resilience-related words, which may facilitate coping with trauma. However, those with low PTG may not exhibit this bias. This study explores whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance attentional bias towards resilience-related words in previously bullied university students with low PTG.
Methods:
A total of 36 university students who had experienced bullying before entering university participated in the study. Participants completed an emotional Stroop task, where they identified the color of resilience-related and neutral words. The task was administered before and after tDCS stimulation targeting the right Superior Temporal Sulcus (rSTS), an area associated with intentionality processing. Participants were randomly assigned to either an anodal stimulation or a sham (placebo) condition. The study also examined the moderating role of approach motivation in the relationship between PTG and attentional bias.
Results:
The results revealed that anodal tDCS significantly increased attentional bias towards positive resilience-related words in students with low PTG. A moderation analysis showed that this effect was dependent on approach motivation—only participants with medium or high approach motivation benefited from stimulation, demonstrating a stronger attentional bias towards positive resilience-related words after tDCS. No such effects were observed in the sham condition.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that tDCS targeting the rSTS can enhance attentional bias towards resilience-related stimuli, potentially aiding individuals with low PTG in developing more adaptive cognitive processing patterns. However, approach motivation appears to be a crucial factor in determining the effectiveness of this intervention. Future research should explore the long-term effects of tDCS, potential applications in psychological interventions, and whether combining brain stimulation with cognitive training could further enhance PTG and resilience in trauma-exposed individuals.
| Poster | Enhancing Resilience and Attentional Bias in Previously Bullied University Students with Low Post-Traumatic Growth: A Study on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation |
|---|---|
| Author | Ravelo, Y. |
| Affiliation | Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional |
| Keywords | Post-traumatic growth, attentional bias, tDCS |
