Abstract
Individuals with acrophobia experience anxiety and dizziness when exposed to heights. It may be that their balance system is disturbed and that they therefore have to rely more strongly on visual information. We tested this hypothesis by exposing 20 individuals with high fear of heights and 20 healthy control participants to nine different visual flow stimuli through a head mounted display, thereby inducing a conflict between visual input and somatosensory information. Anxiety and dizziness were assessed repeatedly by means of self-reports, while resultant body sway was measured continuously with a force plate individuals stood on. Individuals with fear of heights felt more anxious and dizzier, and also showed stronger body sway than healthy control participants. Merely receiving visual balance information contradictory to somatosensory balance information is sufficient to induce anxiety, dizziness, and body sway in individuals with fear of heights. An underlying balance dysfunction may contribute to the development of height phobia.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
