Home-based attentional bias modification with webcam-based eye tracking with persons with cognitive impairment: a feasibility study

Greenaway, A.-M., Hwang, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-3869, Nasuto, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9414-9049 and Ho, A. K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2581-126X (2025) Home-based attentional bias modification with webcam-based eye tracking with persons with cognitive impairment: a feasibility study. Clinical Gerontologist. ISSN 1545-2301 doi: 10.1080/07317115.2025.2523049

Abstract/Summary

Objectives: Remotely delivered attentional bias modification (ABM) studies involving persons with cognitive impairment are lacking. Thus, the feasibility of an adapted ABM paradigm with webcambased eye tracking was explored. Methods: Four of the eight participants recruited (males, Mage = 69 years, Alzheimer’s disease = 3, mild cognitive impairment = 1) completed up to four daily ABM sessions. Tasks comprised pre- and post-intervention depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and rumination (RRS) measures, a cognitive screen (TICS) (A), affect (PANAS) (B) and dot-probe AB measures (C), and dot-probe ABM (D) (Session 1–A, B, C, D, C, and B; Sessions 2 to 4–B, D, C, and B). Results: The intervention was feasible (as defined by completion rates) and appeared beneficial in this small sample (as defined by post-intervention improvements in mood). Sessions were long, and task completion/adherence was impacted by task access/participants’ ability to complete tasks independently. Mind wandering, stimuli familiarity, and eye/fatigue were reported. Conclusions: The intervention requires further adaptation (e.g. fewer eye-tracking tasks per session). Limitations include participant self-selection/loss, a lack of control group, and that the determinants of mood change are unclear. Clinical Implications: ABM, a novel intervention, may be an effective mood-disorder treatment for individuals with cognitive impairment.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/123411
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/07317115.2025.2523049
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > AgeNet Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Ageing Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Department of Bio-Engineering Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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