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Insensitivity of Salivation to Fear Arousal in Women with Spider Phobias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Rachel H. Lawson  and
Cynthia M. Bulik
Rachel H. Lawson
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
Cynthia M. Bulik*
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
*
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. Fax: 64 3 3642 181. E-mail: c.bulik@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
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Abstract

We examined salivary reactivity in 11 women with simple phobia of spiders and 11 controls in response to a spider and a neutral cue. No differences in salivary reactivity were observed across diagnosis or conditions. Clear reactivity in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and subjective units of distress were observed. Salivary reactivity was unrelated to any other measure of reactivity. These results suggest that a decrease in salivation is not a universal response to acute anxiety.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 196 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1995

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References

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