Journal article

Publication year: 2013

Pages: 232-242

Journal: Acta Psychologica

Volume number: 144

Issue number: 2

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.07.001

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

This study investigates enhanced visuomotor processing of phobic compared to fear-relevant and neutral stimuli. We used a response priming design to measure rapid, automatic motor activation by natural images (spiders, snakes, mushrooms, and flowers) in spider-fearful, snake-fearful, and control participants. We found strong priming effects in all tasks and conditions; however, results showed marked differences between groups. Most importantly, in the group of spider-fearful individuals, spider pictures had a strong and Specific influence on even the fastest motor responses: Phobic primes entailed the largest priming effects, and phobic targets accelerated responses, both effects indicating speeded response activation by phobic images. In snake-fearful participants, this processing enhancement for phobic material was less pronounced and extended to both snake and spider images. We conclude that spider phobia leads to enhanced processing capacity for phobic images. We argue that this is enabled by long-term perceptual learning processes.

Harvard Citation style: Haberkamp, A., Schmidt, F. and Schmidt, T. (2013) Rapid visuomotor processing of phobic images in spider-and snake-fearful participants, Acta Psychologica, 144(2), pp. 232-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.07.001

APA Citation style: Haberkamp, A., Schmidt, F., & Schmidt, T. (2013). Rapid visuomotor processing of phobic images in spider-and snake-fearful participants. Acta Psychologica. 144(2), 232-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.07.001