Neural Activations During Imaginal Exposure in Individuals Fearful of Spiders
- Conditions
- Individuals With Fear of Spiders
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Imaginal exposure
- Registration Number
- NCT03969160
- Lead Sponsor
- Uppsala University
- Brief Summary
This study explores the brain basis of imaginal exposure, a widely used psychological treatment technique. Specifically, this study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain areas activated during imaginal exposure, in individuals fearful of spiders. Physiological responses and subjective fear experienced during imaginal exposure are also assessed.
The primary aim of this study is to explore differences in neural activity during exposure to phobic, compared to neutral, mental imagery. The study will focus primarily on exploratory whole brain analyses, but will also include regions of interest analyses on brain areas previously associated with imaginal exposure. The experimental procedure consists of repeated exposure to mental imagery, i.e. imagery of short durations, including either highly emotion-provoking or neutral content, prompted by verbal instructions. A secondary aim is to explore the effects of repeated exposure to mental imagery, used during the experimental procedure, on subjective fear and physiological responses.
- Detailed Description
Results will elucidate if neural activity to phobic imagery differs from activity associated with the production of mental imagery per se. Findings will also increase our general understanding of the neural basis of imaginal exposure treatments.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 30
- Significant fear of spiders
- Current psychiatric disorder other than spider phobia
- Substance abuse
- Neurological disease
- Psychological treatment or psychotropic medication within six months
- Magnetic resonance imaging contradiction
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Imaginal exposure Imaginal exposure The experimental procedure consists of imaginal exposure to mental imagery of phobic and neutral stimuli, prompted through recorded verbal instructions. Participants' repeat the experimental procedure one week later in a follow-up session. Brain imaging data is only collected during day 1
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Blood oxygen level dependent contrast (BOLD-signal) Day 1 BOLD-signal is assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Physiological response during exposure to mental imagery Day 1 Skin-conductance responses are used as a measure of physiological response.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Physiological response during exposure to mental imagery Follow-up (one week after day 1) Skin-conductance responses are used as a measure of physiological response.
Differences in physiological response during exposure to mental imagery, during day 1 compared to the follow-up session. Difference between day 1 and the follow-up session (one week after day 1) Skin-conductance responses are used as a measure of physiological response.
Ratings of subjective fear participants' expect to experience during exposure to mental imagery Day 1 Scale: 0-100; no fear at all - extreme fear.
Ratings of subjective fear experienced during exposure to mental imagery Day 1 Scale: 0-100; no fear at all - extreme fear. Fear ratings are completed immediately after the imaginal exposure experimental procedure
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) Day 1 STAI-S is a self-rated questionnaire included to assess state-anxiety experienced during exposure. High scores indicate high levels of state anxiety (range, total score: 20 - 80).
Differences in ratings of subjective fear during exposure to mental imagery, during day 1 compared to the follow-up session. Difference between day 1 and the follow-up session (one week after day 1) Scale: 0-100; no fear at all - extreme fear.
Vividness of mental imagery Follow-up (one week after day 1) Vividness of imagery of phobic stimuli (scale: 1-5; no image at all - image as clear and vivid as real life).
Differences in vividness of mental imagery, during day 1 compared to the follow-up session. Difference between day 1 and the follow-up session (one week after day 1) Vividness of imagery of phobic stimuli (scale: 1-5; no image at all - image as clear and vivid as real life).
Difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS) Day 1 DERS is a self-rated questionnaire, included to explore potential relations between imaginal exposure and difficulties in emotion regulation. High scores indicate more difficulties in emotion regulation (range, total score: 36 - 180)
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
Uppsala University Hospital - Akademiska sjukhuset
🇸🇪Uppsala, Sweden
Uppsala University, Departement of Psychology
🇸🇪Uppsala, Sweden