How Does Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment Change the Brain Function of Acrophobia Patients? A Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is an effective treatment for acrophobia.
• The neural mechanisms of VRET and its differences from imaginal exposure therapy (IET) are not well understood.
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can investigate these neural mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of VRET on brain activity in patients with acrophobia using fMRI.
• To explore the potential therapeutic mechanisms of VRET.
• To compare the neural effects of VRET with those of IET.

Main Methods:

• Fifty acrophobic patients were randomly assigned to VRET (n=25) or IET (n=25) groups.
• fMRI scans were conducted at baseline and post-treatment after 3 weeks of twice-weekly sessions.
• Analysis included degree centrality (DC) and functional connectivity (FC) of brain activity, alongside self-report symptom measures (AQ, GAD-7).

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was found between symptom improvement (AQ scores) and changes in the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG).
• VRET decreased DC values in the right calcarine, MTG, cuneus, and precuneus; IET decreased DC in the postcentral gyrus.
• VRET reduced FC between the right MTG and other brain regions; IET reduced FC within the left temporal lobe.

Conclusions:

• VRET may improve abnormal brain activity in acrophobia.
• Modulation of the default mode network and primary visual cortex activity appears to be a key mechanism.
• VRET exhibits distinct neural effects compared to IET.