The Link Between Mental Imagery and the Reduction of Fear in Imaginal Extinction
The Link Between Mental Imagery and the Reduction of Fear in Imaginal Extinction
Imaginal exposure is a widely used psychological treatment technique. Imaginal extinction is an experimental analogue of imaginal exposure, that allows the study of this treatment technique under controlled circumstances (Agren, Björkstrand, & Fredrikson, 2017). During imaginal extinction, experimentally induced fear is diminished through repeated exposure to mental imagery of the feared (conditioned) stimulus. However, it is not known to what extent fear reduction depends on the mental imagery produced during this procedure. A better understanding of the mechanisms driving the effects of imaginal exposure and the factors moderating fear reduction could have significant clinical utility, by suggesting mechanistically informed ways to improve this treatment.
The study takes part over three consecutive days, with fear conditioning to visual stimuli on day 1, imaginal extinction on day 2, and a fear reinstatement procedure, again to visual stimuli, on day 3. Skin conductance is used to measure fear responses.
Participants' are randomized to receive conditioning, extinction and reinstatement with either complex or simple stimuli. During imaginal extinction, imagery of each experimental stimulus is prompted through different verbal instructions.
Inclusion Criteria:
Age 18 or over
Fluent in Swedish
Willing and able to provide informed consent and complete study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
Current psychiatric disorder
Use of psychotropic medication within 6 months prior to study start
Receiving psychological treatment within 6 months prior to study start
Current neurological condition