Abstract

Attentional bias (AB) refers to the selective attention to specific information among multiple stimuli. The reliability of the dot probe task, the most widely used paradigm for AB, has been questioned. Instead of the traditional AB index, attentional bias variability (ABV) has come into the spotlight. However, concerns have been raised about disentangling between response time variability (RTV) and ABV. This study aimed to explore the relationship between these variables and depression and anxiety. One hundred college students participated in a dot probe task using facial expressions and completed questionnaires on depression and trait anxiety. The results indicate that neither ABV nor RTV was significantly related to depression, and when controlling for RTV, ABV for threat significantly predicted depression. This was true even when controlling for anxiety. The meaning of RTV and the relationship between ABV and depression are discussed.