Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026
Randomness as a behavioral marker of attentional control during the attention training technique and its neural correlates.
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Schwarz Kristina, Lützkendorf Julia, Giller Franziska, Endrass Tanja
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: The Attention Training Technique (ATT) is a core intervention of metacognitive therapy (MCT) effective in reducing repetitive negative thinking by engaging the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). The current study tests whether a parallel random number generation (RNG) task can serve as a behavioral marker of attentional engagement.
METHODS: We conducted two studies using the fMRI-adapted ATT paradigm combined with a parallel RNG task. In the behavioral study (N = 36), we compared two task versions with short (21 presses) versus long (45 presses) trials. In the fMRI study (N = 42), the ATT paradigm was performed with either parallel RNG or a motor control task. Markers of randomness (i.e., Redundancy, Repetition Gap, and Coupon scores) were compared between ATT conditions. Trait AC was measured using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS).
RESULTS: Randomness was reduced during ATT compared to control trials in both studies (p <.021). Additional analyses showed that 1) across conditions, two of the RNG scores correlated with indices from a standard RNG task (p <.029); 2) ATT-control differences in RNG performance were detected in short and long trials of the ATT paradigm; and 3) ATT-control differences in Redundancy were associated with self-reported trait AC (p = .039). Further, RNG selectively activated regions within the dorsal attention network (pFWE <.05) and dual-task interference attenuated ATT-related task-network activation.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish RNG as a feasible and sensitive behavioral marker of ATT engagement and offer the opportunity to link behavioral performance during ATT to individual differences in AC. However, dual-task demands limit the use of RNG as a behavioral marker, particularly in fMRI which calls for alternative, behavior-independent measures of attentional effort.
METHODS: We conducted two studies using the fMRI-adapted ATT paradigm combined with a parallel RNG task. In the behavioral study (N = 36), we compared two task versions with short (21 presses) versus long (45 presses) trials. In the fMRI study (N = 42), the ATT paradigm was performed with either parallel RNG or a motor control task. Markers of randomness (i.e., Redundancy, Repetition Gap, and Coupon scores) were compared between ATT conditions. Trait AC was measured using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS).
RESULTS: Randomness was reduced during ATT compared to control trials in both studies (p <.021). Additional analyses showed that 1) across conditions, two of the RNG scores correlated with indices from a standard RNG task (p <.029); 2) ATT-control differences in RNG performance were detected in short and long trials of the ATT paradigm; and 3) ATT-control differences in Redundancy were associated with self-reported trait AC (p = .039). Further, RNG selectively activated regions within the dorsal attention network (pFWE <.05) and dual-task interference attenuated ATT-related task-network activation.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish RNG as a feasible and sensitive behavioral marker of ATT engagement and offer the opportunity to link behavioral performance during ATT to individual differences in AC. However, dual-task demands limit the use of RNG as a behavioral marker, particularly in fMRI which calls for alternative, behavior-independent measures of attentional effort.