Temperature Perception in the Blushing Region

Abstract. Background: Individuals with social phobia are characterized by a heightened sensitivity for physical symptom such as blushing. Objectives: We exploratorily examined whether blushing-fearful individuals with / without social phobia were more sensitive to perceiving facial temperature increases compared to healthy controls. Methods: 50 participants were tested using an adaptive two-alternative forced-choice task. A Peltier element was attached to the cheek and repeatedly warmed up in one of two phases. The participants’ task was to indicate in which of the two phases the temperature had increased. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, blushing-fearful individuals with social phobia ( n = 11) were less sensitive to facial temperature increases, i. e., exhibited higher temperature perception threshold, than the subclinical group ( n = 14) and healthy controls ( n = 23). Limitations: The preliminary nature of our study should be noted, and replication in a larger sample is warranted. Conclusions: The findings may be best understood within a predictive coding framework: Individuals with social phobia may rely on priors when assessing their physical symptoms to form an impression of their public self in social situations.