2026-05-13T23:09:13Z https://www.peertechzpublications.org/oai-pmh

oai:www.peertechzpublications.org:10.17352/2455-5460.000006 2015-12-19 PTZ.ADA:VOL2

Different Patterns of Attentional Bias in Subjects with Spider Phobia: A Dot Probe Task using Virtual Reality Environment Alvaro Frías<p><strong>Background:</strong> Cognitive theories posit that all animal phobics develop a hypervigilance- avoidance&nbsp; attentional&nbsp; pattern&nbsp; when&nbsp; coping&nbsp; with&nbsp; threat. However,&nbsp; empirical research has failed to obtain consistent results. We aimed at addressing this issue by diminishing the methodological flaws that hinder the internal and ecological validity of previous studies. </p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: In this research, 34 spider fearful and 33 non-fearful participants completed a probe dot task using virtual reality environments. A subjective threshold for each participant was established. Position of the probe (low vs. up) and interval between trials (regular vs. irregular) were controlled. </p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Compared to non-fearful individuals, spider phobics showed preconscious attentional bias&nbsp; towards threat in unexpected (low&nbsp; and&nbsp; irregular) trials.&nbsp; Moreover, phobics tended to display conscious attentional bias away from threat in unexpected (irregular) trials. Severity of fear did not correlate with attentional bias. </p><p><strong>Limitations</strong>: We did not use eye movement tracking as well as potential biomarkers for attentional bias (e.g., event-related potentials). The risk of type-I error cannot be ruled out.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: These findings partly support the hyper vigilance-avoidance pattern by considering some contextual factors that may enhance uncertainty in phobics. The alleged role of attentional bias in phobias is also questioned.</p> Archives of Depression and Anxiety - Peertechz Publications 2015-12-19 Research Article https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-5460.000006 en Copyright © Alvaro Frías et al.