The effects of distraction on threat-related changes in standing balance control

•Postural threat evoked changes in emotional state, attention focus, and balance•A distracting cognitive task modified threat-related changes in attention focus•Specific threat-related changes in standing balance were modified with distraction•Results support links between threat-related changes in balance and attention focus Research indicates that threat-induced changes in standing balance are associated with shifts in attention focus. This study investigated whether distracting attention modifies threat-induced changes in standing balance. Twenty-five healthy young adults stood without (No Threat) and with (Threat) the possibility of receiving a temporally unpredictable anteroposterior support surface translation. In both conditions, participants completed a distractor task that consisted of counting how often a pre-selected letter occurred in an auditory sequence, or no distractor task. Emotional responses to threat were quantified using electrodermal activity and self-report measures, while attention focus was quantified using self-report. Centre of pressure (COP) was measured to assess changes in standing balance. Results indicate that postural threat induced an emotional response, as well as broad shifts in attention focus and changes in standing balance. Distracting attention with a cognitive task mitigated threat-induced increases in medium-frequency COP displacements (0.5–1.8 Hz). These results provide support for a relationship between threat-related changes in balance control and attention focus.