Emotion regulation through bifocal processing of fear inducing and disgust inducing stimuli

Wittfoth, Dina; Pfeiffer, A Z; Bohne, Michael; Lanfermann, Heinrich; Wittfoth, Matthias

doi:10.1186/s12868-020-00597-x

Cited by 8 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The question was therefore rather whether interventions directed to improve the medical situation and well-being of patients also have effects on breathing force. One of the positive suggestions tested was taken from Process- and Embodiment-focused Psychology (PEP) according to Michael Bohne ( Wittfoth et al, 2020 ). It combines a movement of the hand and body sensation with words of self-affirmation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength

et al. 2022

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Introduction:The effects of specific suggestions are usually studied by measuring parameters that are directly addressed by these suggestions. We recently proposed the use of a uniform, unrelated, and objective measure like maximal muscle strength that allows comparison of suggestions to avoid nocebo effects and thus to improve communication. Since reduced breathing strength might impair respiration and increase the risk of post-operative pulmonary complications, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the suggestions on respiratory muscle power. Both the identification and neutralization of negative suggestions in the clinical context and stimulating suggestions could improve breathing force, a predictor of physical fitness and convalescence.MethodsIn 50 healthy, adult volunteers, respiratory muscle strength was measured by maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, as well as by maximal inspiratory and expiratory flows. Baseline was compared to values after application of eleven suggestions, five out of clinical context, including memory of negative or positive past, risk information for informed consent, and a non-verbal suggestion. Six stimulating suggestions included self-affirmation, empowering words, a heroic mirror image, and an imagination.ResultsAll suggestions showed an impact on respiratory muscle strength, indicating placebo and nocebo effects. No single parameter could represent the breathing force in its complexity, however, trends and different specific aspects of it were measured. The strongest reaction was observed with the recall of a previous negative situation resulting in a reduction in expiratory flow to 96.1% of baseline (p = 0.041). After risk information, a decrease was observed in three of the parameters, with the highest extend in expiratory pressure by 4.4%. This nocebo effect was neutralized by adding positive aspects to the risk information. Every intended strengthening suggestion resulted in statistically significant increases of at least one parameter, with changes of up to 10% (e.g., MEP 110.3%, p = 0.001), indicating placebo effects. Here, expiration was more affected than inspiration. Sex was the only influencing factor reaching statistical significance, with stronger reactions in women.ConclusionRespiratory muscle strength proved to be sensitive to suggestions with clinical context, as well as suggestions intended for stimulation. With this objective measurement, evaluation, and comparison of different suggestions is possible to help avoid nocebo effects. The demonstrated effect of supporting suggestions can be followed up and used in clinical practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength

et al. 2022

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“…Measurements of subjective affectedness remained unchanged both during bilateral simultaneous auditory stimulation and during bilateral alternating auditory stimulation. The pattern of neural activation and behavioral responses observed in these two studies of bifocal multisensory emotion regulation is particularly interesting as it is distinct from the pattern found in cognitive emotion regulation ( Herkt et al, 2014 , Wittfoth et al, 2020 ). A large body of literature shows that the application of cognitive strategies of emotion regulation is consistently characterized by reduced limbic (particularly amygdala) activation and increased prefrontal activation, while negativity ratings are commonly reduced ( Braunstein et al, 2017 , Ochsner et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…A recent study from our group provides first time evidence of neural and behavioral effects of visualized and actual acupoint tapping (tapping) in response to two types of aversive emotional stimuli in healthy participants ( Wittfoth et al, 2020 ). In it, we find increased amygdala activation and decreased ventral anterior cingulate cortex activation during emotion regulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bifocal multisensory stimulation is thought to allow a person to remain with the negative stimulus long enough to let the emotion run its course, without defaulting to unwanted phobic or traumatic responses. The prolonged processing of the emotional stimulus in a state that allows for a new way of integrating it might in turn be represented by higher limbic activation and decreased prefrontal activation observed during the application of bifocal multisensory regulation ( Herkt et al, 2014 , Wittfoth et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bifocal emotion regulation through acupoint tapping in fear of flying

Wittfoth

Beise

Manuel

et al. 2022

NeuroImage: Clinical

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“…The intensity of their subjective responses to the negative emotional stimuli was reduced. Activation in various brain regions involved in affect and information processing was selectively increased or decreased as required for adaptively "re-organizing the underlying neural pathways [70]. "…”

Section: Sedating and Activating Signalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Energy Psychology in Addressing the Psychological Roots of Illness

Feinstein¹

2021

obm icm

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he impact of psychological factors on illness is, in recent years, being biochemically mapped. The subspecialties of psychosomatic medicine, health psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, and integrative medicine work with mind and body in concert to promote health and healing. A specialized set of mind-body approaches, collectively called “energy psychology,” is being utilized within these and related clinical frameworks to facilitate beneficial changes in the neurological underpinnings of (1) mental states that impede immune function, (2) emotional influences that contribute to illness, and (3) inner resources that promote healing. Combining practices from time-honored healing traditions, particularly acupressure, with concepts and techniques drawn from contemporary psychology, practitioners using one of the most popular variations of the approach teach patients to tap on a prescribed series of acupuncture points while repeating phrases that activate areas of the brain that are involved with the issue receiving attention. Preliminary evidence supports speculation, which is consistent with more than a hundred peer-reviewed clinical trials, that the procedure can send deactivating signals to areas of the limbic system that are in hyperarousal and can send activating signals to regions of the prefrontal cortex that support executive functions such as planning and managing stressful situations. Ways of utilizing the approach for addressing emotional and cognitive aspects of physical illness are discussed. While utilizing the best medical interventions available remains the first line of treatment, the potential value of working with the psychological aspects of disease is frequently underestimated. Energy psychology is proving to be a powerful tool for addressing this dimension of illness and healing. The paper closes with a detailed case history.

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Emotion regulation through bifocal processing of fear inducing and disgust inducing stimuli

Cited by 8 publications

References 63 publications

Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength

Nocebo Effects of Clinical Communication and Placebo Effects of Positive Suggestions on Respiratory Muscle Strength

Bifocal emotion regulation through acupoint tapping in fear of flying

Applications of Energy Psychology in Addressing the Psychological Roots of Illness

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