The effect of one-session exposure treatment on selective processing and explicit memory bias in snake- and spider-fearful participants

<p>Unlike the empirically supported phenomenon of anxiety-induced selective processing bias, research on congruent explicit memory bias is inconclusive; indeed, there is evidence for recall decrements of threat-relevant information. There is also a paucity of literature examining the effects of treatment on these cognitive biases. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exposure treatment on selective processing and explicit memory bias in snake- and spider-fearful participants by measuring implicit and explicit memory for central and peripheral environmental details. Recall for environmental details in a fearful group that received treatment was compared to a fearful group that did not receive treatment and to a non-fearful control group to evaluate the presence of selective processing bias, explicit memory bias, and the effect of treatment on these phenomena. Results indicated no implicit or explicit memory biases in any participant group. There was, however, the presence of significant memory deficits, specifically for peripheral details, in fearful participants who did not receive treatment.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Stanley-Kime, Karen L

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ellen Koch, Ph.D., Chair
• Renee Lajiness-O’Neill, Ph.D.
• Dennis Delprato, Ph.D.

• Anxiety disorders Treatment
• Cognitive psychology
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/161

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1160