title: Triggers of fear: perceptual cues versus conceptual information in spider phobia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fear reactions in spider-phobic patients can be activated by specific perceptual cues or by conceptual fear-related information. Matching perceptual fear cues and fear-related information were expected to result in maximal fear responses, perceptual fear cues alone in less fear, and information alone in the weakest responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used virtual reality to manipulate the available cues and information. Forty-eight phobic patients and 48 healthy participants were repeatedly exposed to either a perceptual cue, information, or a combination of both.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In conditions with a fear-relevant perceptual cue, phobic patients reported increased fear compared to the condition with information only. Across exposures trials, these reactions diminished. Skin conductance in phobic patients was significantly higher in the combined than in the cue or the information condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceptual cues are essential for phobic fear reactions in spider phobia. In combination with fear-relevant information, perceptual cues activate an intense and persistent fear reaction.
authors.affiliation: University of Würzburg.
authors.forename: Henrik M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Peperkorn
authors.forename: Georg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Alpers
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mühlberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: conceptual information; perceptual cues; spider phobia; virtual reality exposure