A meta-analytic review of neuroimaging studies of specific phobia to small animals

Peñate, Wenceslao; Fumero, Ascensión; Viña, Conrado M.; Herrero, María del Carmen García; Marrero, Rosario J.; Rivero, Francisco

doi:10.1016/j.ejpsy.2016.12.003

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…As pointed out by previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses, greater activations were found in the areas traditionally involved in fear processing [16][17][18][19][20]. These activations were found regardless of whether participants were exposed to virtual stimuli or real image stimuli.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…We used neuroimaging activations as dependent variables. The images were filtered for ROI, taking into account previous results with patients with phobias [16][17][18][19][20]. Nine regions were selected for both hemispheres: Amygdala, hippocampus, insula, fusiform gyrus, occipital cortex (inferior, medial, and superior), calcarine area, and thalamus.…”

Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shed light on how patients with phobias process phobic stimuli. According to systematic reviews and meta-analyses [16][17][18][19][20], the presence of phobic stimuli is associated with greater activation of the left amygdala and insular cortex than of other brain areas. Other structures involved in phobic responses are the fusiform gyrus, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the left cingulate cortex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Equivalence between Virtual and Real Feared Stimuli in a Phobic Adult Sample: A Neuroimaging Study

Peñate

Rivero

Viña

et al. 2019

JCM

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The clinical use of virtual reality (VR) has proven its efficacy, especially when used as an exposure technique. A prominent property of VR’s utility is its equivalence with the reality it represents. In this study, we explored this equivalence in a clinical context using neuroimaging. A sample of 32 adults with specific phobias (i.e., to cockroaches, spiders, or lizards) was divided into two groups: One was exposed to phobic stimuli using VR and the other was exposed to real phobic images (RI). We used brain activations as a dependent measure, focusing specifically on brain areas usually associated with fear processing. Whole-brain analysis detected higher activations for RI in the hippocampus, occipital, and calcarine areas. A specific analysis of the amygdala and insula also detected higher activations and extensions in response to RI, but VR stimuli also activated those areas in a significant manner. These results suggest that even in those cases where RI stimuli activate all of the brain’s fear-processing circuits, VR stimuli do so as well. This implies that VR can be useful as an exposure technique similar to RI and applied as more than a mere training mechanism.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Equivalence between Virtual and Real Feared Stimuli in a Phobic Adult Sample: A Neuroimaging Study

Peñate

Rivero

Viña

et al. 2019

JCM

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“…Other structures involved in phobic responses were the fusiform gyrus, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the left cingulate cortex. Overall, this review found that the role of frontal areas seemed to be less stable than that of limbic areas ( Peñate et al, 2017 ). Considering the findings of the above-mentioned review, the aim of the present study was to provide data about brain activation in individuals with specific phobia (i.e., cockroach phobia).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroimaging in cockroach phobia: An experimental study

Rivero

Herrero

Viña

et al. 2017

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology

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Background/ObjectiveIn this study we explored the neuroimaging characteristics of persons with specific small animal (cockroach) phobia to determine whether there are differences in cerebral activity between persons with and without cockroach phobia under conditions of phobic and non-phobic stimulation. Method: 24 adult persons (12 with phobia) were studied. The diagnosis of phobia was obtained with a structured interview and questionnaires. All participants were exposed to a 3D video presentation during an fMRI session. Results: The phobic group showed significant differential activations that were congruent with a dual route model of fear processing through the thalamus-amygdala (route I) and the thalamus-sensory and association cortex-entorhinal cortex-hippocampus-subiculum-amygdala (route II). Apart from this dual route, we also found differential activations in the globus pallidum, parahippocampal gyrus, insula, pars orbitalis, triangularis and opercularis of the frontal cortex, and cerebellum. Respect to non-phobic group, no activations were found in the insula or the anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusions: There seems to be a dual route depending on how persons with phobia to cockroaches process phobic stimuli. This double processing can have implications for the psychological treatment of specific phobias.

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“…Further, there is a rich literature on hemodynamic responses during confrontation with fearful material from fMRI studies. In their meta-analysis, Peñate et al 13 investigated fMRI studies of healthy controls and phobic individuals, finding increased brain activity in the left amygdala, insular cortex, fusiform gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left cingulate cortex in the latter when presented with phobic stimuli. Interestingly, Ipseret al 14 found a similar pattern comprising higher activations in bilateral insula, amygdala, right medial and right superior frontal cortex and extrastriate visual cortex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuronal correlates of spider phobia in a combined fNIRS-EEG study

Rosenbaum

Leehr

Kroczek

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Specific phobia is associated with aberrant brain activation in confrontation paradigms with phobic stimuli. In previous EEG research enhanced event-related potentials (ERPs) in the late-positive potential (LPP) window have been observed. Further, studies with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and fMRI suggest that spider phobia is associated with enhanced activation within cortical and subcortical areas. In the current study we investigated the neuronal correlates of spider phobia in a combined fNIRS–EEG study. To this end, 37 spider phobic patients (PP) and 32 healthy controls (HC) underwent a symptom provocation paradigm during which subjects watched video clips of spiders and domestic animals (confrontation phase) after being primed on the content of the video (anticipation phase). Simultaneously, fNIRS, EEG, electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography and behavioral measures were assessed. Results showed increased LPP amplitudes, increased hemodynamic responses in the cognitive control network, and increased EMG activity and heart rate during spider conditions in PP in comparison to HC. Furthermore, in behavioral ratings PP showed higher emotional distress and avoidance. Behavioral ratings, fNIRS and EEG data showed positive correlations on a between-subject as well as on a within-subject level. Our results merge the existing data on neurophysiological correlates of phobic stimulus processing in hemodynamic and electrophysiological research and extend those of static visual material (pictures) to dynamic visual material (videos).

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A meta-analytic review of neuroimaging studies of specific phobia to small animals

Cited by 19 publications

References 40 publications

The Equivalence between Virtual and Real Feared Stimuli in a Phobic Adult Sample: A Neuroimaging Study

The Equivalence between Virtual and Real Feared Stimuli in a Phobic Adult Sample: A Neuroimaging Study

Neuroimaging in cockroach phobia: An experimental study

Neuronal correlates of spider phobia in a combined fNIRS-EEG study

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