In the 2016 study “Fear reduction without fear through reinforcement of neural activity that bypasses conscious exposure,” researchers wanted to come up with a new method of desensitizing people to things that they feared. The typical method, which is known as exposure therapy, involves allowing participants to face their fears in a safe environment. However, the researchers felt that many potential participants may be too afraid to sign up for exposure therapy sessions. To remedy this, they proposed a method of using fMRI to detect when the subjects exhibited similar brain activity to when they were experiencing their fears and give them a cash reward when this happened. The study was conducted using both fears the participants had identified, and using a pattern of colored lines participants had been conditioned to fear using electric shocks. The method appeared to have been effective, with those who received a reward showing less signs of fear (sweating, amygdala activity) than those who did not (Wilson, 2016).
The human reaction to fear involves both an emotional response and the activation of the autonomic nervous system. There have been different models throughout history to explain which of these responses comes first, although it is now generally believed that both responses happen simultaneously (Watson & Breedlove, 2019, pp. 320-321). The amygdala is also activated in response to fearful stimuli, with damage to the amygdala leading to a reduced response to fear. The amygdala is also responsible for learning what stimuli are to be feared (Watson & Breedlove, 2019, pp. 330-332). There is precedent for how the study uses fMRI to study brain activation during emotional periods (Watson & Breedlove, 2019, pp. 332-333), even if the effectiveness of fMRI at determining brain activity reliably has been somewhat questioned (Watson & Breedlove, 2019, p. 49). What the study could add to our understanding is how the brain activates when thinking fearful thoughts.
The results of the study could be useful in helping people overcome their fears without prolonged exposure to fearful stimuli. It also demonstrates that even unconscious expressions of fear can be alleviated through the promise of a reward. However, I think that the study does not determine whether this method could work on people with more crippling fears, or those with post-traumatic stress disorder, who could benefit the most from these kinds of treatments. A possible follow-up study could be analyzing whether a similar process could alleviate other unconscious emotions besides fear, such as disgust.
Sources:
Watson, N. V., & Breedlove, S. M. (2019). The mind’s machine: Foundations of brain and behavior. Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Wilson, C. (2016, November 21). Unconscious brain training beats phobias without the stress. New Scientist. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2113507-unconscious-brain-training-beats-phobias-without-the-stress/