Autonomic nervous system changes associated with a spider phobic reaction
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Tested the theory that autonomic nervous system arousal increases during a phobic reaction. 11 spider phobics and 11 nonphobics (female undergraduates) viewed spider, seascape, and surgical slides while several physiological responses were continuously recorded. Spider phobics showed significantly faster heart rate, greater heart-rate variability, and vasoconstriction during spider slide presentations than nonphobics. Spider phobics also showed more frequent phasic skin responses but not larger skin response amplitudes to spider slides. Respiration rate and respiration amplitude were not significantly different for the 2 groups. It appears that while a general autonomic nervous system arousal occurs during a spider-phobic reaction, the demand characteristics of the phobic situation seem to determine which physiological responses are most affected. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1974 American Psychological Association.
Publication Date
4-1-1974
Publication Title
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
ISSN
0021843X
Volume
83
Issue
2
First Page
169
Last Page
177
PubMed ID
4825212
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1037/h0036476
Recommended Citation
Prigatano, George P. and Johnson, Harold J., "Autonomic nervous system changes associated with a spider phobic reaction" (1974). Clinical Neuropsychology. 172.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neuropsychology/172