Stronger renewal in human fear conditioning when tested with an acquisition retrieval cue than with an extinction retrieval cue

Behav Res Ther. 2006 Dec;44(12):1717-25. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2005.10.014. Epub 2006 Feb 2.

Abstract

It was previously demonstrated in our laboratory that conditioned fear in humans can renew after extinction, when this procedure took place in a different context (ABA-renewal [Vansteenwegen et al. (2005). Return of fear in a human differential conditioning paradigm caused by a return to the original acquisition context. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(3), 323-336]). Using the same experimental design, we now tested the power of retrieval cues to interact with this contextual renewal phenomenon. Two groups went through acquisition and extinction (in a different context). They were then tested in the original acquisition context and in the presence of a retrieval cue. In the acquisition-cue group, this cue previously featured during the acquisition procedure; in the extinction-cue group, the cue previously featured during the extinction procedure. As expected, renewal of conditioned electro-dermal responding and retrospective expectancy ratings was strongest in the acquisition-cue group. Theoretical and clinical implications of this finding are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Association Learning
  • Conditioning, Psychological*
  • Cues*
  • Extinction, Psychological*
  • Fear*
  • Galvanic Skin Response
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Lighting
  • Psychophysics