Vulnerability and conditioning in relation to the human menstrual cycle.
An experiment aimed at testing some implications of a model of symptom acquisition is reported. In particular, the effect conditioning and extinction is examined. Sixteen female phobic patients were tested either immediately pre-menstrually or inter-menstrually. Using white noise as the UCS and a blue light as the CS, conditioned GSR responses were readily established in members of the pre-menstrual group, who also showed resistance to extinction. Subjects tested inter-menstrually were less susceptible to these effects. Those subjects taking the contraceptive pill showed increased sensitivity to the acquisition of conditioned responses.
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000150:complications
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral