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Brain function in spider phobia

Johanson, Aki LU ; Gustafson, Lars LU ; Passant, Ulla LU ; Risberg, Jarl LU ; Smith, Gudmund LU ; Warkentin, Siegbert LU and Tucker, D (1998) In Psychiatry Research 84(2-3). p.101-111
Abstract
Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed in 16 women suffering from spider phobia. The non-invasive 133Xe inhalation method, giving information about the blood flow of superficial areas, was used. The subjects were studied under three conditions: during resting, when exposed to a videotape showing nature scenery, and finally when watching a video with living spiders. During the rCBF measurements the subjects' behaviour was registered systematically and respiration, blood pressure, Pco2, and heart rate were monitored. Eight subjects who showed and reported severe panic during the spider exposure had marked rCBF decreases in frontal areas, especially in the right hemisphere. The remaining eight subjects displayed a... (More)
Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed in 16 women suffering from spider phobia. The non-invasive 133Xe inhalation method, giving information about the blood flow of superficial areas, was used. The subjects were studied under three conditions: during resting, when exposed to a videotape showing nature scenery, and finally when watching a video with living spiders. During the rCBF measurements the subjects' behaviour was registered systematically and respiration, blood pressure, Pco2, and heart rate were monitored. Eight subjects who showed and reported severe panic during the spider exposure had marked rCBF decreases in frontal areas, especially in the right hemisphere. The remaining eight subjects displayed a more efficient control of their emotions and became frightened, but not panic-stricken, during the spider exposure. These showed a consistent rCBF increase in the right frontal area compared to neutral stimulation. Thus, results revealed significant functional changes in the frontal cortex in subjects with spider phobia during phobogenic exposure. It seems likely that these frontal changes are related to the experience and control of phobic anxiety. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Psychiatry Research
volume
84
issue
2-3
pages
101 - 111
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0032517882
ISSN
1872-7123
DOI
10.1016/S0925-4927(98)00051-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Department of Psychogeriatrics (013304000), Department of Psychology (012010000)
id
31ce6ddd-472c-49bb-943a-36a724bc4093 (old id 1296576)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:20:13
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:18:38
@article{31ce6ddd-472c-49bb-943a-36a724bc4093,
  abstract     = {{Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were performed in 16 women suffering from spider phobia. The non-invasive 133Xe inhalation method, giving information about the blood flow of superficial areas, was used. The subjects were studied under three conditions: during resting, when exposed to a videotape showing nature scenery, and finally when watching a video with living spiders. During the rCBF measurements the subjects' behaviour was registered systematically and respiration, blood pressure, Pco2, and heart rate were monitored. Eight subjects who showed and reported severe panic during the spider exposure had marked rCBF decreases in frontal areas, especially in the right hemisphere. The remaining eight subjects displayed a more efficient control of their emotions and became frightened, but not panic-stricken, during the spider exposure. These showed a consistent rCBF increase in the right frontal area compared to neutral stimulation. Thus, results revealed significant functional changes in the frontal cortex in subjects with spider phobia during phobogenic exposure. It seems likely that these frontal changes are related to the experience and control of phobic anxiety.}},
  author       = {{Johanson, Aki and Gustafson, Lars and Passant, Ulla and Risberg, Jarl and Smith, Gudmund and Warkentin, Siegbert and Tucker, D}},
  issn         = {{1872-7123}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2-3}},
  pages        = {{101--111}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Psychiatry Research}},
  title        = {{Brain function in spider phobia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4927(98)00051-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0925-4927(98)00051-1}},
  volume       = {{84}},
  year         = {{1998}},
}