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Enhancing extinction learning: Occasional presentations of the unconditioned stimulus during extinction eliminate spontaneous recovery, but not necessarily reacquisition of fear.
Behav Res Ther. 2018 09; 108:29-39.BR

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Fears underlying anxiety disorders are commonly treated with exposure-based therapies, which are based on the principles of extinction learning. While these treatments are efficacious, fears may return after successful treatment. Past research suggested that post-extinction recovery of fear could be reduced through extinction training that involves occasional presentations of the aversive unconditioned stimulus (US), paired with the conditioned stimulus (CS). Here, we examined whether extinction training with occasionally paired or unpaired US presentations is superior in the reduction of fear recovery to non-reinforced extinction.

METHOD

Following differential fear conditioning to neutral cues, participants (N = 72; M age = 21.61 years, SD = 3.95) underwent either non-reinforced, partially reinforced, or unpaired extinction training.

RESULTS

Extinction involving paired or unpaired US presentations, but not non-reinforced extinction, eliminated spontaneous recovery of differential skin conductance responses (SCRs). Results further suggested that unpaired, but not paired, US presentations may guard against rapid reacquisition of differential SCRs. No benefits of US presentations during extinction were found on the reinstatement of SCRs or recovery of differential negative CS+ valence.

CONCLUSION

Presenting USs during extinction training was more effective than non-reinforced extinction in the reduction of fear recovery, as indexed by SCRs, with unpaired extinction being more effective than partially reinforced extinction.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Thompson A
School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia. Electronic address: alina.thompson@curtin.edu.au.
McEvoy PM
School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; Centre for Clinical Interventions, 223 James Street, Northbridge, WA 6003, Australia.
Lipp OV
School of Psychology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; ARC-SRI: Science of Learning Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.

MeSH

AdolescentAdultConditioning, ClassicalExtinction, PsychologicalFearFemaleGalvanic Skin ResponseHumansMaleYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

29981936

Clinical Trial Links

Optimizing Exposure Using Occasional Aversive Imagery in Spider Fearful Individuals

Citation

Thompson, Alina, et al. "Enhancing Extinction Learning: Occasional Presentations of the Unconditioned Stimulus During Extinction Eliminate Spontaneous Recovery, but Not Necessarily Reacquisition of Fear." Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 108, 2018, pp. 29-39.
Thompson A, McEvoy PM, Lipp OV. Enhancing extinction learning: Occasional presentations of the unconditioned stimulus during extinction eliminate spontaneous recovery, but not necessarily reacquisition of fear. Behav Res Ther. 2018;108:29-39.
Thompson, A., McEvoy, P. M., & Lipp, O. V. (2018). Enhancing extinction learning: Occasional presentations of the unconditioned stimulus during extinction eliminate spontaneous recovery, but not necessarily reacquisition of fear. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 108, 29-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.07.001
Thompson A, McEvoy PM, Lipp OV. Enhancing Extinction Learning: Occasional Presentations of the Unconditioned Stimulus During Extinction Eliminate Spontaneous Recovery, but Not Necessarily Reacquisition of Fear. Behav Res Ther. 2018;108:29-39. PubMed PMID: 29981936.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Enhancing extinction learning: Occasional presentations of the unconditioned stimulus during extinction eliminate spontaneous recovery, but not necessarily reacquisition of fear. AU - Thompson,Alina, AU - McEvoy,Peter M, AU - Lipp,Ottmar V, Y1 - 2018/07/03/ PY - 2018/03/13/received PY - 2018/05/21/revised PY - 2018/07/02/accepted PY - 2018/7/10/pubmed PY - 2019/9/10/medline PY - 2018/7/9/entrez KW - Fear conditioning KW - Occasionally reinforced extinction KW - Partially reinforced extinction KW - Reacquisition KW - Reinstatement KW - Return of fear KW - Spontaneous recovery KW - Unpaired extinction SP - 29 EP - 39 JF - Behaviour research and therapy JO - Behav Res Ther VL - 108 N2 - BACKGROUND: Fears underlying anxiety disorders are commonly treated with exposure-based therapies, which are based on the principles of extinction learning. While these treatments are efficacious, fears may return after successful treatment. Past research suggested that post-extinction recovery of fear could be reduced through extinction training that involves occasional presentations of the aversive unconditioned stimulus (US), paired with the conditioned stimulus (CS). Here, we examined whether extinction training with occasionally paired or unpaired US presentations is superior in the reduction of fear recovery to non-reinforced extinction. METHOD: Following differential fear conditioning to neutral cues, participants (N = 72; M age = 21.61 years, SD = 3.95) underwent either non-reinforced, partially reinforced, or unpaired extinction training. RESULTS: Extinction involving paired or unpaired US presentations, but not non-reinforced extinction, eliminated spontaneous recovery of differential skin conductance responses (SCRs). Results further suggested that unpaired, but not paired, US presentations may guard against rapid reacquisition of differential SCRs. No benefits of US presentations during extinction were found on the reinstatement of SCRs or recovery of differential negative CS+ valence. CONCLUSION: Presenting USs during extinction training was more effective than non-reinforced extinction in the reduction of fear recovery, as indexed by SCRs, with unpaired extinction being more effective than partially reinforced extinction. SN - 1873-622X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/29981936/Enhancing_extinction_learning:_Occasional_presentations_of_the_unconditioned_stimulus_during_extinction_eliminate_spontaneous_recovery_but_not_necessarily_reacquisition_of_fear_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -