Avoiding a feared stimulus: Modelling costly avoidance of learnt fear in a sensory preconditioning paradigm

Wong AH, Pittig A (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Biological Psychology Elsevier

Book Volume: 168

Article Number: 108249

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108249

Abstract

Avoidance of learnt fear prevents the onset of a feared stimulus and the threat that follows. In anxiety-related disorders, it turns pathological given its cost and persistence in the absence of realistic threat. The current study examined the acquisition of costly avoidance of learnt fear in healthy individuals (n = 45), via a sensory preconditioning paradigm. Two neutral preconditioning stimuli (PSs) were paired with two neutral conditioned stimuli (CSs). One CS then came to predict an aversive outcome whereas the other CS came to predict safety. In test, participants engaged in stronger avoidance to the PS associated with the fear-related CS than the PS associated with the safety-related CS. Of note, executing behavioral avoidance led to missing out a competing reward, thus rendering avoidance costly. The results also provide preliminary evidence that threat anticipation and a negative change in valence play a role in driving costly avoidance of learnt fear. Future studies should examine how avoidance of learnt fear maintains pathological anxiety.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andre Pittig Professorship for Translational Psychotherapy

Related research project(s)

Decision conflicts in anxiety: Experimental mechanisms of approach-avoidance conflicts and their clinical relevance for anxiety disorders (DCA) May 1, 2018 - May 1, 2021

Involved external institutions

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Wong, A.H., & Pittig, A. (2022). Avoiding a feared stimulus: Modelling costly avoidance of learnt fear in a sensory preconditioning paradigm. Biological Psychology, 168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108249

MLA:

Wong, Alex H.K., and Andre Pittig. "Avoiding a feared stimulus: Modelling costly avoidance of learnt fear in a sensory preconditioning paradigm." Biological Psychology 168 (2022).

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