Reinstatement of extinguished conditioned responses and negative stimulus valence as a pathway to return of fear in humans.
The present study investigated reinstatement of conditioned responses in humans by using a differential Pavlovian conditioning procedure. Evidence for reinstatement was established in a direct (fear rating) and in an indirect measure (secondary reaction time task) of conditioning. Moreover, the amount of reinstatement in the secondary reaction time task was significantly correlated with the difference in valence between the conditioned stimulus (CS)+ and the CS-after extinction. These data provide clear evidence for reinstatement and for the role of negative stimulus valence in the return of conditioned responding after extinction.
Dirikx
Trinette
T
Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium. Trinette.Dirikx@psy.kuleuven.ac.be
Hermans
Dirk
D
Vansteenwegen
Debora
D
Baeyens
Frank
F
Eelen
Paul
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001245:Association Learning; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003463:Cues; D004644:Emotions; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D012016:Reference Values