Some animal specific fears are more specific than others: Evidence from attention and emotion measures.
Using a visual search methodology we investigated the effect of feared animal stimuli on attention. Our results confirmed the important role of emotion on attention. All participants detected fear-relevant stimuli (snakes and spiders) faster than neutral (mushrooms) ones against a background of fruits. In addition, spider fearful participants were sensitized specifically to detect their feared stimulus (spiders), compared to their fear-relevant but non-feared (snakes) and neutral stimuli. However, for participants fearful of snakes there was no significant difference in detection latencies between the feared (snakes) and the fear-relevant but non-feared animal stimuli (spiders). The results from the attention task were mirrored in the emotional ratings, which showed that spider fear was highly specific, whereas snake fear was associated with a more generalized enhanced evaluation of all negative stimuli.
Soares
Sandra C
SC
Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Psychology, Stockholm, Sweden. sandra.soares@ki.se
Esteves
Francisco
F
Lundqvist
Daniel
D
Ohman
Arne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D012911:Snakes; D013112:Spiders; D014796:Visual Perception