Sarah E Dreyer-Oren1, Elise M Clerkin2, Cierra B Edwards3, Bethany A Teachman4, Shari A Steinman5. 1. Miami University, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA. Electronic address: dreyerse@miamioh.edu. 2. Miami University, 90 N Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA. Electronic address: clerkiem@miamioh.edu. 3. West Virginia University, 1124 Life Sciences Building, P.O. Box 6040, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA. Electronic address: cgbrooks@mix.wvu.edu. 4. University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA. Electronic address: bat5x@virginia.edu. 5. West Virginia University, 1124 Life Sciences Building, P.O. Box 6040, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA. Electronic address: shari.steinman@mail.wvu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: People who are afraid of heights may have a perceptual bias, such that they see heights as higher than they truly are. The current study tested if there is a causal relationship between treatments for height fear and changes in perceptual bias. METHODS: Specifically, the effects on perceptual bias following three height fear interventions (exposure, cognitive bias modification for interpretations, and a combination of exposure and cognitive bias modification) and a control condition were examined in individuals with an extreme fear of heights (N = 107). RESULTS: Results provided preliminary evidence that some height fear interventions reduce perceptual bias. Specifically, participants that completed exposure had a significant decrease in perceptual bias, and participants in the cognitive bias modification and combination conditions had decreases in perceptual bias at the level of non-significant trends, while no reduction occurred for the control condition. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include that the hypothesis was largely informed by data from a parent study and that the effect sizes were small; thus, replicating these results is warranted. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there may be a causal relationship between height fear treatments and altered perception of heights.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:People who are afraid of heights may have a perceptual bias, such that they see heights as higher than they truly are. The current study tested if there is a causal relationship between treatments for height fear and changes in perceptual bias. METHODS: Specifically, the effects on perceptual bias following three height fear interventions (exposure, cognitive bias modification for interpretations, and a combination of exposure and cognitive bias modification) and a control condition were examined in individuals with an extreme fear of heights (N = 107). RESULTS: Results provided preliminary evidence that some height fear interventions reduce perceptual bias. Specifically, participants that completed exposure had a significant decrease in perceptual bias, and participants in the cognitive bias modification and combination conditions had decreases in perceptual bias at the level of non-significant trends, while no reduction occurred for the control condition. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include that the hypothesis was largely informed by data from a parent study and that the effect sizes were small; thus, replicating these results is warranted. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there may be a causal relationship between height fear treatments and altered perception of heights.
Authors: Diana Bzdúšková; Martin Marko; Zuzana Hirjaková; Jana Kimijanová; František Hlavačka; Igor Riečanský Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 3.169