Abstract
The present study tested the hypothesis that autonomic responding to imagery instructions can be enhanced by increasing the number of stimulus modalities associated with the feared stimulus. This prediction was supported by the skin-conductance frequency data. The theory under consideration also resulted in a prediction that imagery ratings of clarity would initially be lower as the number of modalities (stimulus intensity of the scenes) increased. It was further predicted that with scene repetition and subsequent fear extinction, imagery clarity would then increase. The scenes were presented in the form of stimulus propositions. The data supported both of these predictions. An additional hypothesis that the autonomic differences between subjects who rated themselves prior to the experiment as either low or high in fear to the target stimulus would diminish as a direct function of an increase in the number of stimulus modalities presented was only partially supported. The paper presents the underlying rationale for these predictions as well as noting the clinical relevance of the findings.
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Holzman, A.D., Levis, D.J. The effects of increasing the number of stimulus modalities included in a fear-eliciting imagery scene on reported imagery clarity, scene repetition, and sympathetic (fear) arousal. Cogn Ther Res 13, 389–405 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173481
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173481