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Fumero A, Marrero RJ, Olivares T, Rivero F, Alvarez-Pérez Y, Pitti C, Peñate W. Neuronal Activity during Exposure to Specific Phobia through fMRI: Comparing Therapeutic Components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12081132. [PMID: 36013311 PMCID: PMC9410164 DOI: 10.3390/life12081132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) packages for anxiety disorders, such as phobias, usually include gradual exposure to anxious contexts, positive self-verbalizations, and relaxation breathing. The objective of this research was to analyze the specific neural activation produced by the self-verbalizations (S) and breathing (B) included in CBT. Thirty participants with clinical levels of a specific phobia to small animals were randomly assigned to three fMRI conditions in which individuals were exposed to phobic stimuli in real images: a group underwent S as a technique to reduce anxiety; a second group underwent B; and a control group underwent exposure only (E). Simple effects showed higher brain activation comparing E > S, E > B, and S > B. In particular, in the E group, compared to the experimental conditions, an activation was observed in sensory-perceptive and prefrontal and in other regions involved in the triggering of emotion (i.e., amygdala, supplementary motor area, and cingulate gyrus) as well as an activation associated with interoceptive sensitivity (i.e., insula and cingulate cortex). According to the specific tool used, discrepancies in the neural changes of CBT efficacy were observed. We discuss the theoretical implications according to the dual model of CBT as a set of therapeutic tools that activate different processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ascensión Fumero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (T.O.); or (F.R.); (W.P.)
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosario J. Marrero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (T.O.); or (F.R.); (W.P.)
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Teresa Olivares
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (T.O.); or (F.R.); (W.P.)
| | - Francisco Rivero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (T.O.); or (F.R.); (W.P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea de Canarias, 38300 La Orotava, Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Pitti
- Dirección General de Salud Pública, Servicio Canario de la Salud, 38006 Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Spain;
| | - Wenceslao Peñate
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (T.O.); or (F.R.); (W.P.)
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
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Bas‐Hoogendam JM, Groenewold NA, Aghajani M, Freitag GF, Harrewijn A, Hilbert K, Jahanshad N, Thomopoulos SI, Thompson PM, Veltman DJ, Winkler AM, Lueken U, Pine DS, van der Wee NJA, Stein DJ. ENIGMA-anxiety working group: Rationale for and organization of large-scale neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:83-112. [PMID: 32618421 PMCID: PMC8805695 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and disabling but seem particularly tractable to investigation with translational neuroscience methodologies. Neuroimaging has informed our understanding of the neurobiology of anxiety disorders, but research has been limited by small sample sizes and low statistical power, as well as heterogenous imaging methodology. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group has brought together researchers from around the world, in a harmonized and coordinated effort to address these challenges and generate more robust and reproducible findings. This paper elaborates on the concepts and methods informing the work of the working group to date, and describes the initial approach of the four subgroups studying generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. At present, the ENIGMA-Anxiety database contains information about more than 100 unique samples, from 16 countries and 59 institutes. Future directions include examining additional imaging modalities, integrating imaging and genetic data, and collaborating with other ENIGMA working groups. The ENIGMA consortium creates synergy at the intersection of global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group extends the promise of this approach to neuroimaging research on anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Marie Bas‐Hoogendam
- Department of Developmental and Educational PsychologyLeiden University, Institute of PsychologyLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Nynke A. Groenewold
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Moji Aghajani
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam UMC / VUMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Department of Research & InnovationGGZ inGeestAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Gabrielle F. Freitag
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development BranchBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Anita Harrewijn
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development BranchBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Kevin Hilbert
- Department of PsychologyHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics InstituteLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sophia I. Thomopoulos
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics InstituteLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Paul M. Thompson
- University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics InstituteLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dick J. Veltman
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam UMC / VUMCAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Anderson M. Winkler
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development BranchBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Ulrike Lueken
- Department of PsychologyHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Daniel S. Pine
- National Institute of Mental Health, Emotion and Development BranchBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Nic J. A. van der Wee
- Department of PsychiatryLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental HealthUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- University of Cape TownSouth African MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental DisordersCape TownSouth Africa
- University of Cape TownNeuroscience InstituteCape TownSouth Africa
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Frynta D, Janovcová M, Štolhoferová I, Peléšková Š, Vobrubová B, Frýdlová P, Skalíková H, Šípek P, Landová E. Emotions triggered by live arthropods shed light on spider phobia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22268. [PMID: 34782659 PMCID: PMC8593055 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01325-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Spiders are mostly harmless, yet they often trigger high levels of both fear and disgust, and arachnophobia (the phobia of spiders) ranks among the most common specific animal phobias. To investigate this apparent paradox, we turned to the only close relatives of spiders that pose a real danger to humans: scorpions. We adopted a unique methodology in order to assess authentic emotions elicited by arthropods. Over 300 respondents were asked to rate live specimens of 62 arthropod species (including spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, and other insects) based on perceived fear, disgust, and beauty. We found that species' scores on all three scales depended on the higher taxon as well as on body size. Spiders, scorpions, and other arachnids scored the highest in fear and disgust, while beetles and crabs scored the highest in beauty. Moreover, all chelicerates were perceived as one cohesive group, distinct from other arthropods, such as insects or crabs. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the fear of spiders might be triggered by a generalized fear of chelicerates, with scorpions being the original stimulus that signals danger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Janovcová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Iveta Štolhoferová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Peléšková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Vobrubová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Skalíková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Šípek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Landová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic.
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Álvarez-Pérez Y, Rivero F, Herrero M, Viña C, Fumero A, Betancort M, Peñate W. Changes in Brain Activation through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Exposure to Virtual Reality: A Neuroimaging Study of Specific Phobia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10163505. [PMID: 34441804 PMCID: PMC8397119 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10163505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure is the treatment of choice for specific phobia. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has shown benefits for the treatment and prevention of the return of fear in specific phobias by addressing the therapeutic limitations of exposure to real images. Method: Thirty-one participants with specific phobias to small animals were included: 14 were treated with CBT + VRET (intervention group), and 17 were treated with CBT + exposure to real images (active control group). Participants’ scores in anxiety and phobia levels were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up, and brain activation was measured through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) baseline and post-treatment. Results: Both groups showed a significant decrease in anxiety and phobia scores after the therapy and were maintained until follow-up. There were no significant differences between both groups. Overall, fMRI tests showed a significant decrease in brain activity after treatment in some structures (e.g., prefrontal and frontal cortex) and other structures (e.g., precuneus) showed an increasing activity after therapy. However, structures such as the amygdala remained active in both groups. Conclusions: The efficacy of CBT + VRET was observed in the significant decrease in anxiety responses. However, the results of brain activity observed suggest that there was still a fear response in the brain, despite the significant decrease in subjective anxiety levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Álvarez-Pérez
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38109 Tenerife, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Francisco Rivero
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
| | - Manuel Herrero
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
| | - Conrado Viña
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
| | - Ascensión Fumero
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
| | - Moisés Betancort
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
| | - Wenceslao Peñate
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain; (F.R.); (M.H.); (C.V.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (W.P.)
- University Institute of Neurosciences (IUNE), University of La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain
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Cockroaches are scarier than snakes and spiders: Validation of an affective standardized set of animal images (ASSAI). Behav Res Methods 2021; 53:2338-2350. [PMID: 33826093 PMCID: PMC8025455 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-021-01577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Research on emotional processes has been closely related to the use of emotional stimuli, promoting the development of different standardized sets of images. However, some kinds of images that would be relevant in clinical psychology research are not available, especially for small animal phobias. The aim of the present study is to validate a set of animal images that includes images of cockroaches, which are not present in the current sets of images. Two hundred and forty images depicting five types of animals (cockroaches, spiders, snakes, cats, and butterflies) were collected from online public domains. Four hundred and twenty-four participants (72.9% women) took part in the study rating the images in two affective dimensions (i.e., valence and arousal). Cockroach pictures were rated as significantly more unpleasant than pictures of spiders, snakes, butterflies, and cats. Moreover, results revealed that women rated cockroach, spider, and snake pictures as more negative than men did. Also, women in comparison with men rated cockroach images as more arousing. The results highlight the importance of using images of cockroaches, due to their high negative valence, which even exceeds that of snakes and spiders, the unpleasant animals typically used in phobic research. This set of images can be useful in research on small-animal phobias.
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Fumero A, Marrero RJ, Rivero F, Alvarez-Pérez Y, Bethencourt JM, González M, Peñate W. Neuronal Correlates of Small Animal Phobia in Human Subjects through fMRI: The Role of the Number and Proximity of Stimuli. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040275. [PMID: 33810230 PMCID: PMC8065419 DOI: 10.3390/life11040275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain regions involved in small-animal phobia include subcortical and cortical areas. The present study explored the neuronal correlates of small-animal phobia through fMRI data to determine whether a manipulation of number and proximity parameters affects the neurobiology of the processing of feared stimuli. The participants were 40 individuals with phobia and 40 individuals without phobia (28.7% male and 71.3% female). They watched videos of real and virtual images of spiders, cockroaches and lizards in motion presented more or less nearby with one or three stimuli in the different conditions. The results suggested a differential brain activity between participants with and without phobia depending on the proximity and number of phobic stimuli. Proximity activated the motor response marked by the precentral gyrus and the cingulate gyrus. By contrast, the number of stimuli was associated with significant sensory activity in the postcentral gyrus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. We also observed a greater activity in the occipital cortex when exploring the number compared to the proximity factor. Threatening stimuli presented nearby and those presented in greater numbers generated an intense phobic response, suggesting a different emotion regulation strategy. Based on these findings, exposure therapies might consider including proximity to the threat and number of stimuli as key factors in treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ascensión Fumero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosario J. Marrero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
| | - Francisco Rivero
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea de Canarias, 38300 La Orotava, Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - Juan Manuel Bethencourt
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
| | - Manuel González
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
| | - Wenceslao Peñate
- Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Psicobiología y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (R.J.M.); (F.R.); (J.M.B.); (M.G.); (W.P.)
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Peñate W, Rivero F, Viña C, Herrero M, Betancort M, De la Fuente J, Álvarez-Pérez Y, Fumero A. The Equivalence between Virtual and Real Feared Stimuli in a Phobic Adult Sample: A Neuroimaging Study. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8122139. [PMID: 31817140 PMCID: PMC6947488 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8122139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Wenceslao Peñate
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Francisco Rivero
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Conrado Viña
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Manuel Herrero
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Moisés Betancort
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
| | - Juan De la Fuente
- Servicio Canario de la Salud, 38004 S.C. Tenerife, Spain; (J.D.l.F.); (Y.Á.-P.)
| | | | - Ascensión Fumero
- Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain; (W.P.); (F.R.); (C.V.); (M.H.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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