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Systematic Review of Studies on Subliminal Exposure to Phobic Stimuli: Integrating Therapeutic Models for Specific Phobias
- Source :
- Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol 15 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.
-
Abstract
- We systematically review 26 papers investigating subjective, behavioral, and psychophysiological correlates of subliminal exposure to phobic stimuli in phobic patients. Stimulations were found to elicit: (1) cardiac defense responses, (2) specific brain activations of both subcortical (e.g., amygdala) and cortical structures, (3) skin conductance reactions, only when stimuli lasted >20 ms and were administered with intertrial interval >20 s. While not inducing the distress caused by current (supraliminal) exposure therapies, exposure to subliminal phobic stimuli still results in successful extinction of both psychophysiological and behavioral correlates: however, it hardly improves subjective fear. We integrate those results with recent bifactorial models of emotional regulation, proposing a new form of exposure therapy whose effectiveness and acceptability should be maximized by a preliminary subliminal stimulation. Systematic Review Registration: identifier [CRD42021129234].
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1662453X
- Volume :
- 15
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Neuroscience
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.7bccda7f65d142408715252095613825
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.654170