Study finds limited benefits from cognitive bias modification (CBM) training, calls for further research

Faces along a positive-neutral to negative-neutral spectrum, and a sad face, from Peters et al. (2017)‘s CBM for facial interpretation training. Credit: University of Bristol Could cognitive interventions be useful in treating depression? (Science News): “A new study by experimental psychologists from the University of Bristol has examined whether cognitive bias modification (CBM) for facial interpretation, a digital health intervention that changes our perception for emotional expressions from negative to positive, might be useful in treating depression. We all occasionally focus on the negative rather than the positive, and sometimes ruminate over a negative event, but a consistent tendency to perceive even ambiguous or neutral words, faces, and interactions as negative (a negative bias), may play a causal role in the onset and rate of relapse in depression…A growing field of psychological interventions known as cognitive bias modification (CBM) propose that by modifying these negative biases it may be possible to intervene prior to the onset of depression… The study’s lead author, Sarah Peters, who is a PhD student at the University of Bristol’s School of Experimental Psychology and Biomedical Research Centre, said: “We wanted to test a novel CBM paradigm which has previously shown robust bias modification effects, but for which the impact on mood and mood-relevant measures was unclear”…There was some evidence that daily stressful events were perceiv...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Technology biomedical-research CBM CBM training Cognitive Bias Modification depression digital health digital health intervention Experimental Psychology facial interpretation mood disorders Source Type: blogs