The Effect of Stress on Visual Selective Attention according to Extraversion

This study was devoted to investigating the effect of stress on visual selective attention according to Extraversion (E) moderating effect. The sample group was selected with respect to neuropsychological control variables by multi-session random sampling from unmarried male Tehran universities’ students (60 subjects in three equal groups (20 subjects in each group) two experimental groups and one control group). Subjects in experimental groups administered cognitive stressful tasks and then their visual selective attention was assessed. The control group subjects’ visual selective attention was assessed without administrating cognitive stressful tasks. Sum of errors in counting and errors in classification designated as visual attention indexes. Results showed that stress significantly increased both counting and classification errors (p<0.001). In addition, Extraversion (E) reduces the effect of stress on both counting error and classification error (p<0.0001) significantly. These results revealed that stress reduces the visual selective attention on neutral stimuli and Extraversion (E) alleviates this negative effect.