Abstract :
[en] Several experimental paradigms were developed to measure attentional biases
towards alcohol-related cues. However, most of them are based on reaction
times to two-dimensional stimuli displayed on a computer screen, such that
their ecological validity has been questioned. To address this, we integrated an
eye tracking system into a virtual reality headset (ET-VR) and measured
attentional biases in a subclinical population of alcohol users. In this
exploratory study, forty social drinkers were recruited and immersed in a
virtual bar including alcohol-related stimuli. Attentional focus was assessed
using dwell time and number of fixations for these alcohol-related stimuli as
well as for neutral stimuli unrelated to alcohol consumption. The results show
that the number of fixations and, to a lesser extent, the dwell time for alcohol-
related cues were positively correlated with the drinking motivation of the
participants. In contrast, no significant correlation was found for neutral stimuli.
In conclusion, the present study shows that alcohol-induced attentional biases
can be studied using an ET-VR device in a subclinical population of alcohol
users.
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
0