An examination of emotional processing and emotional expression in alexithymia using imagery
Abstract
Affective deficits are the hallmark feature of alexithymia. Alexithymia has also been associated with decreased imaginative involvement, although little attention has been paid to the relationship between alexithymia and imagery ability, or to whether imagery deficits are specific to emotional material. This study examined alexithymics' (n = 44) and non-alexithymics' (n = 42) abilities to engage in emotional and non-emotional imagery after response-oriented imagery training (encouraging participants to focus on their behavioral and physiological responses during imagery). Alexithymics and non-alexithymics imagined emotional (anger, fear, joy) and non-emotional (action, non-arousing neutral) scenes while heart rate, skin conductance, and facial electromyography (smile and frown) were recorded. Participants completed 11 imagery trials, with each trial composed of a: 30s baseline period, a 50s read period during which they heard audiotaped imagery scripts and began to imagine the scene, a 30s image period, and an untimed ratings period in which they rated their imagery for valence, arousal, dominance, and vividness. The emotional content of the image affected responses on all physiological variables. Alexithymics, unlike non-alexithymics, failed to show differential heart rate responses between the emotional imagery and the non-arousing, neutral imagery. Similarly, for corrugator EMG, alexithymics, unlike non-alexithymics, failed to significantly differentiate between negative affective imagery and neutral imagery. Furthermore, alexithymics showed skin conductance and heart rate responding to the non-emotional, arousing action imagery suggesting that imagery deficits are specific to emotional material. Groups did not differ significantly in their self-reported ratings of emotional imagery. These findings support alexithymics deficits in emotional imagery processing and negative emotional expression.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Conger, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy
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