Unconditioned stimulus revaluation and avoidance of learnt fear
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: Laboratory studies showed that increasing the aversiveness of unconditioned stimulus (US) post-conditioning increases conditioned fear to the CS that had been paired with the US (e.g., White & Davey, 1989). This study aims to extend these findings to avoidance of learnt fear, a behavioral response that prevents the onset of a CS. Using a sensory conditioning procedure, we first pair two neutral preconditioning stimuli (PSs) with two neutral CSs. The two CSs are then paired with two different neutral noises. We then increase the aversiveness of one neutral noise in the Revaluation group, whereas the same noise remains neutral in the Control group. We then examine whether participants in the Revaluation group will show stronger avoidance to the PS indirectly associated with the revalued US compared to the Control group.
Source: OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Authors: Matthias J Wieser, Larissa Chang, Alex H K Wong
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7113236312