The Effect of arousal on auditory threat detection and the relationship to auditory hallucinations

Robert Dudley, Guy Dodgson, Gabrielle Sarll, Racheal Halhead, Helen Bolas, Simon McCarthy-Jones

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background and objectives A recent model of a subtype of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) has proposed such experiences may result from increased arousal altering auditory threat perception. Methods This study considered this theory using undergraduate students who undertook a new experimental paradigm, the Auditory Threat Discrimination Task (ATDT). This examined the effects of arousal on auditory threat perception (Study 1), and its relation to hallucination-proneness (Study 2). Results Study 1 (n = 66) found evidence that the high, as compared to low-arousal condition, was associated with a higher level of accurate and false threat detection (as measured by both number of hits and false-alarms). Study 2 addressed some methodological limitations of Study 1 and also found that the high as compared to low-arousal condition, was associated with a higher level of threat detection. Study 2 also found that high hallucination prone participants (n = 20) reported a higher level of perceived threat (as measured by both number of hits and false-alarms), compared to low hallucination prone participants (n = 20). Limitations Overall limitations of the work included use of a non-clinical group. Also the increased arousal induced by the experiment was modest and may not fully represent the processes in operation in clinical participants. Conclusions These findings provide some initial evidence that auditory threat detection increases under conditions of arousal, and are consistent with the proposal that some AVHs may result from hypervigilance to auditory threat.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)311-318
    Number of pages8
    JournalJournal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
    Volume45
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014

    Keywords

    • Anxiety
    • Hallucinations
    • Threat

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The Effect of arousal on auditory threat detection and the relationship to auditory hallucinations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this