Good at it but loves to have fun! Is the “cowardly version” of bungee jumping a boon for people with acrophobia?

During the summer vacation, major tourist attractions have welcomed a peak in tourist traffic. A "cowardly version" of bungee jumping in a scenic spot in Zhejiang has attracted many "inexperienced but fun-loving" tourists, and related videos have also been widely circulated online.

The height is only 20 to 30 meters, and the safety rope slowly lowers the person down

Image source: Jiupai News

For the timid, this bungee jumping is very friendly, but for many people who are afraid of heights, such a height will still make them retreat. So, why do some people face heights easily, while others are deeply troubled? Why are we not afraid of heights when we are young, but suddenly afraid of heights when we grow up? Is there any treatment for fear of heights? If I am a little afraid of heights, can I try the "cowardly version" of bungee jumping? Today, let's discuss it together.

01

Why are we afraid of heights?

People generally believe that fear of heights is caused by a disorder of the body's sense of balance, but the latest research reveals that fear of heights is related to specific neural pathways . Based on the characteristics of human fear of heights, the research team of East China Normal University observed the fear of heights of mice under different conditions and found two neural circuits directly related to the regulation of fear of heights[1]. The study found that when mice were on an open high platform, they would have similar reactions to humans when they were at heights, such as restricted movement, lowered center of gravity, anxiety, tremors, etc. The researchers further observed the fear of heights of mice under different sensory deprivation conditions and found that the fear of heights was mainly caused by the visual impact of being at heights .

Comparison of mice's fear of heights under light and dark conditions

Image source: Reference [1]

In addition, the research team also found that another visual system - non-imaging vision, a key part of the non-imaging visual system called vLGN, when it is connected to another brain area called PAG, it affects the mice's fear response to heights . At the same time, the study also found that another brain area (superior colliculus) is also involved in this process.

After inhibiting the PAG brain area and vLGN-PAG circuit, the fear of heights in mice was significantly weakened

Image source: Reference [1]

A similar process also exists for humans. Studies have found that when people are at heights, the left frontal lobe and right temporal lobe become excited, triggering over-arousal emotions and behaviors such as fear, anxiety, trembling, and increased muscle tension, which in turn leads to stronger activity in the right parietal and temporal regions of the brain [2]. This means that the fear of heights is an instinctive brain reaction that can help us avoid potential falls. Those who are afraid of heights are not "too timid" but are truly affected by physiological and brain reactions .

EEG of alpha and high beta bands in excited brain areas when acrophobia occurs

Image source: Reference [2]

02

I wasn’t afraid of heights when I was a child, why did I suddenly become afraid of heights when I grew up?

Even though there are some common physiological causes, not everyone will be afraid of heights in life. There are also many people who can play in heights without worries when they are young, but gradually develop a fear of heights as they grow older. This is the result of a combination of factors, which may be related to physiological changes and growth experiences. Physiological factors include genetic susceptibility and physiological changes during growth. With age, the sense of balance and vision of body organs may gradually degenerate , which may lead to changes in people's perception and response to heights. At the same time, as people age, they may experience adverse events related to heights, such as falls and injuries, so they pay more attention to their own safety and health, and their fear of heights will increase accordingly.

Image source: Photo Network

Personality traits are also important factors affecting fear of heights . For example, people with personality traits such as introversion, high anxiety, and perfectionism may be more likely to be afraid of heights. This may be related to the individual's sensitivity to fearful stimuli, confidence in coping with danger and adapting to the environment.

In addition, social environment and cultural background may also affect people's fear of heights. Modern urbanites are more likely to develop acrophobia when facing tall buildings because they face more visual and spatial challenges.

03

Can acrophobia be cured?

Fear of heights is not uncommon. People often feel uncomfortable or nervous when they are in high places. However, only when the symptoms of fear of heights cause too much trouble and seriously affect work and life can it be called "acrophobia" that meets the DSM-V diagnostic criteria - a type of specific phobia under anxiety disorder.

Although there is no specific drug that can directly cure acrophobia, a series of psychological treatments and cognitive behavioral therapies can largely reduce or even eliminate the patient's fear of heights. The most famous treatment is a systematic desensitization treatment program , which starts with a lower height and gradually increases the exposure under the guidance of professionals, so that the patient can gradually adapt and reduce the fear response to heights [3].

Traditional exposure therapy is divided into real exposure and imaginary exposure. Real exposure requires a lot of time and money, and some scenes are difficult to encounter in daily life. The effect of imaginary exposure therapy is limited by the patient's imagination and cognitive function. Therefore, in recent years, exposure therapy through virtual reality (VR) has gradually become one of the most common treatment methods [4].

Image source: Photo Network

VR technology is not only immersive, interactive, and multi-sensory, but also easy to use, which is conducive to patients' autonomous intervention . During the autonomous intervention process, patients can gradually adjust the difficulty and complexity of the virtual scene according to their actual situation and acceptance level. For example, they can start the experience from a lower floor and gradually increase the height and complexity until they can deal with various high-altitude scenes with ease. This progressive training method helps patients gradually overcome their fear of heights and improve their self-control ability. Studies have shown that the use of VR for autonomous intervention of acrophobia is not only safe and effective, but also has a more significant intervention effect for people who originally have a higher level of fear [5].

VR autonomous intervention device for acrophobia (A) and scene content (B) Source: Reference [5]

Back to the beginning, the "cowardly version" of bungee jumping undoubtedly provides an excellent balance for those who are eager to try new things but are a little timid. However, everyone's psychological tolerance and physiological reactions are unique. For those who have not yet reached the clinical level of acrophobia and only have a certain fear of heights, such an experience may be a valuable opportunity to feel the excitement.

However, for those who have been diagnosed with acrophobia by professional doctors, it is recommended to think carefully before participating in such activities and seek professional medical advice. The high-altitude element of bungee jumping may greatly increase the fear of people with acrophobia , leading to severe psychological discomfort or even panic attacks; at the same time, it may also be accompanied by strong physiological reactions, such as accelerated heartbeat, rapid breathing, dizziness, etc., which will have an adverse effect on physical and mental health. Therefore, for this group of people, it is a wiser choice to protect their mental health and avoid unnecessary stimulation and challenges .

References

[1]Shang, W., Xie, S., Feng, W., Li, Z., Jia, J., Cao, X., ... & Yuan, XB (2024). A non-image-forming visual circuit mediates the innate fear of heights in male mice. Nature Communications, 15(1), 3746.

[2]Wang, H., Wang, Q., & Hu, F. (2019). Are you afraid of heights and suitable for working at height?. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 52, 23-31.

[3]Chou, PH, Tseng, PT, Wu, YC, Chang, JPC, Tu, YK, Stubbs, B., ... & Su, KP (2021). Efficacy and acceptability of different interventions for acrophobia: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of affective disorders, 282, 786-794.

[4]Wechsler, TF, Kümpers, F., & Mühlberger, A. (2019). Inferiority or even superiority of virtual reality therapy exposure in phobias? - A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials specifically comparing the efficacy of virtual reality exposure to gold standard in vivo exposure in agoraphobia, specific phobia, and social phobia. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 445129.

[5]Hong, YJ, Kim, HE, Jung, YH, Kyeong, S., & Kim, JJ (2017). Usefulness of the mobile virtual reality self-training for overcoming a fear of heights. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 20(12), 753-761.

Author: Wang Yifan, a master’s student majoring in clinical and counseling at the School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University

Planning & Editing: Ding Dong

Acknowledgements: Zhang Ya, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Psychology, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, provided scientific guidance for this article.