Startle and spider phobia: Unilateral probes and the prediction of treatment effects

The present study explored two issues: (1) the predictive value of startle responses for treatment success and (2) the lateralization of affect-modulated startle responses. Approximately 40 days before behavioral treatment, monaural startle probes were presented to 20 women who were spider phobic and applied for therapy. This was done in the presence of a live spider, a book, and tasty Food-items. Both left and right monaural probes elicited blink magnitudes, which increased linearly from pleasant to unpleasant foreground stimuli. Thus, no evidence emerged to support the idea that the affect-startle relationship is predominantly a Function of left ear stimulation. The self-reported startle closely mimicked the pattern of eyeblink startle responses. The magnitude of the startle response had predictive value For treatment success assessed immediately after treatment and at 9 months follow-up.