Security-Priming in Trauma-Exposed Individuals: an fMRI study
Iles, Andrew Thomas
Date: 8 August 2013
Thesis or dissertation
Publisher
University of Exeter
Degree Title
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Abstract
Research shows a strong association between attentional bias to threat and emotional
regulation difficulties, specifically heightened activation of neural areas known to be involved
in emotional processing (amygdala) in individuals who report post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Theoretical and research evidence suggests that the enhancing ...
Research shows a strong association between attentional bias to threat and emotional
regulation difficulties, specifically heightened activation of neural areas known to be involved
in emotional processing (amygdala) in individuals who report post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Theoretical and research evidence suggests that the enhancing of felt attachment security
through security-priming may grant an individual access to effective emotion regulation
strategies, which in turn may reduce attentional bias and associated abnormal neural
activations.
Trauma-survivors with elevated anxiety levels were randomised into an experimental
group (secure attachment priming, n=16) where they were primed using positive attachment-related
pictures, or a neutral control priming condition (n=18) where they viewed non attachment
pictures of people. Participants then completed a dot-probe task to measure
attentional bias to threat, and an emotionally threatening face-matching task to probe amygdala
activation.
No between groups differences were found on measures of attentional bias. Contrary to
the hypothesis, participants in the security-priming group showed significantly greater
amygdala activation in response to threatening faces. Attachment style was not found to
moderate the impact of security-priming on attentional bias or neural activation.
Interpersonal trauma experiences make up the majority of the study sample. The
impact of this is considered in the context of short-term single exposure to explicit attachment
based security-priming interventions and the study paradigm employed to measure amygdala
activation, which may act to initially dysregulate and contraindicate activation of a secure
attachment representation, respectively.
Doctoral Theses
Doctoral College
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