Randomness as a behavioral marker of attentional control during the attention training technique and its neural correlates.

Overview

1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Abstract

Background: The Attention Training Technique (ATT) is a core intervention of metacognitive therapy (MCT) effective in reducing repetitive negative thinking by engaging the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). The current study tests whether a parallel random number generation (RNG) task can serve as a behavioral marker of attentional engagement.

Methods: We conducted two studies using the fMRI-adapted ATT paradigm combined with a parallel RNG task. In the behavioral study (N = 36), we compared two task versions with short (21 presses) versus long (45 presses) trials. In the fMRI study (N = 42), the ATT paradigm was performed with either parallel RNG or a motor control task. Markers of randomness (i.e., Redundancy, Repetition Gap, and Coupon scores) were compared between ATT conditions. Trait AC was measured using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS).

Results: Randomness was reduced during ATT compared to control trials in both studies (p <.021). Additional analyses showed that 1) across conditions, two of the RNG scores correlated with indices from a standard RNG task (p <.029); 2) ATT-control differences in RNG performance were detected in short and long trials of the ATT paradigm; and 3) ATT-control differences in Redundancy were associated with self-reported trait AC (p = .039). Further, RNG selectively activated regions within the dorsal attention network (pFWE <.05) and dual-task interference attenuated ATT-related task-network activation.

Conclusions: These findings establish RNG as a feasible and sensitive behavioral marker of ATT engagement and offer the opportunity to link behavioral performance during ATT to individual differences in AC. However, dual-task demands limit the use of RNG as a behavioral marker, particularly in fMRI which calls for alternative, behavior-independent measures of attentional effort.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Data availability statement

TThe data that support the findings of this study are available in the Open Science Framework (OSF) at https://osf.io/7q25a/overview.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Version 1, 29 September 2026: the first record

Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, pages, dates, 4 authors, 5 keywords, 2 funders, 65 references.

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This paper

Schwarz, K., Lützkendorf, J., Giller, F., & Endrass, T. (2026). Randomness as a behavioral marker of attentional control during the attention training technique and its neural correlates. Frontiers in psychiatry, 17, 1765858. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1765858

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