A freezing-like posture to pictures of mutilation

  1. Tatiana M. Azevedo1,
  2. Eliane Volchan1,
  3. Luiz A. Imbiriba2,
  4. Erika C. Rodrigues1,
  5. José M. Oliveira2,
  6. Liliam F. Oliveira2,
  7. Luiz G. Lutterbach1,
  8. Claudia D. Vargas1

Article first published online: 25 APR 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00287.x

Issue

Psychophysiology

Psychophysiology

Volume 42, Issue 3, pages 255–260, May 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Azevedo, T. M., Volchan, E., Imbiriba, L. A., Rodrigues, E. C., Oliveira, J. M., Oliveira, L. F., Lutterbach, L. G. and Vargas, C. D. (2005), A freezing-like posture to pictures of mutilation. Psychophysiology, 42: 255–260. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00287.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  2. 2

    School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

*Address reprint requests to: Eliane Volchan, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Brigadeiro Trompowski s/n, Ilha do Fundao, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-900, Brazil. E-mail: evolchan@biof.ufrj.br.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 APR 2005
  2. Article first published online: 25 APR 2005
  3. (Received August 30, 2004; Accepted January 10, 2005)

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Keywords:

  • Freezing;
  • Mutilation;
  • Posture;
  • Fear bradycardia;
  • Picture viewing

Abstract

Postural sway and heart rate were recorded in young men viewing emotionally engaging pictures. It was hypothesized that they would show a human analog of “freezing” behavior (i.e., immobility and heart rate deceleration) when confronted with a sustained block of unpleasant (mutilation) images, relative to their response to pleasant/arousing (sport action) or neutral (objects) pictures. Volunteers stood on a stabilometric platform during picture viewing. Significantly reduced body sway was recorded during the unpleasant pictures, along with increased mean power frequency (indexing muscle stiffness). Heart rate during unpleasant pictures also showed the expected greater deceleration. This pattern resembles the “freezing” and “fear bradycardia” seen in many species when confronted with threatening stimuli, mediated by neural circuits that promote defensive survival.

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