Research
Mental imagery abilities in different modalities moderate the efficacy of cognitive bias modification for interpretation bias in social anxiety
A new study reveals that individual differences in mental imagery ability significantly impact the effectiveness of Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I) therapy for social anxiety. The research involved 72 participants with high social anxiety who completed either a 5-day online CBM-I intervention or a control condition. The CBM-I training helped participants develop more positive interpretations of ambiguous social situations, resulting in reduced negative interpretation bias and decreased social anxiety symptoms (11-18% reduction). Most importantly, the study found that participants with stronger mental imagery abilities—particularly in emotional feelings—benefited substantially more from the intervention. Those with higher imagery vividness showed greater reductions in both negative interpretation bias and social anxiety symptoms compared to those with lower imagery abilities. This finding helps explain why CBM-I treatments sometimes yield inconsistent results across different individuals. The researchers suggest that clinicians should assess mental imagery ability before offering CBM-I therapy, as people with limited imagery capacity might benefit more from modified versions of the treatment that specifically enhance imagery generation. This research holds particular relevance for the aphantasia community, suggesting that those with limited visual imagery might respond differently to certain therapeutic approaches, and that alternative treatment modifications focusing on emotional rather than visual imagery could potentially be more effective for individuals with aphantasia experiencing social anxiety.
