Risk for alcoholism and classical conditioning to signals for punishment: evidence for a weak behavioral inhibition system?
Nonalcoholic men with high-density family histories of alcohol dependence (high risk) were compared with men with negative family histories (low risk) on a differential classical conditioning protocol that examined the acquisition of conditioned skin conductance responses (SCRs) to a tone (CS+) signaling the occurrence of an electric shock. High-risk Ss had significantly smaller SCRs to the CS+ tone probes during the acquisition phase and poor response discrimination between CS+ probes and CS- tones that were not paired with shock. The low-risk Ss showed a consistent pattern of discrimination between the CS+ and CS- tones. Unresponsivity to the CS+ probes was significantly related to more alcohol-related problems. The results suggest a relationship between risk for alcohol abuse and poor conditioning to signals for punishment, possibly reflecting weak behavioral inhibition system processes (D. C. Fowles, 1987).
Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405-1301.
P R
PR
Finn
D N
DN
Kessler
A M
AM
Hussong
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011678:Punishment; D012307:Risk Factors