Individuals With Fear of Spiders Clinical Trial
Official title:
Neural Activations During Imaginal Exposure in Individuals Fearful of Spiders
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.
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. ;