Imagery in human classical conditioning.

Abstract

Many clinical strategies use patients' imagery to explore and treat phobic and posttrauma reactions, however little attention has been paid to the underlying assumption that imagery of relevant stimuli may help maintain conditioned behavior. In this article, the authors examine the premise that mental images can potentiate and substitute for physical stimuli in human classical conditioning. The authors review empirical evidence to detail the role of images of conditioned stimuli (CS) and unconditioned stimuli (US) during pre-exposure to stimuli, the actual pairing of the CS and US, and extinction when the CS is presented alone. The evidence suggests that mental imagery can facilitate or diminish the outcome of classical conditioning in humans and, more tentatively, that mental images can substitute for actual US and CS in autonomic conditioning. They argue that researchers should explore the role of mental imagery in conditioning through the use of advances in the measurement of imagery. Finally, they analyze anxiety and trauma reactions as examples of how applied areas can be used to explore and benefit from developments in this area.

Cue exposure treatment for smoking relapse prevention: a controlled clinical trial

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Glutamate NMDA Receptors within the Amygdala Participate in the Modulatory Effect of Glucocorticoids on Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Rats

“…Treatments of these disorders often rely on progressive extinction of fear memories (Zarate and Agras, 1994;Dadds et al, 1997;Foa, 2000). However, there is little direct evidence for any molecular dysfunction that may predispose individuals to such disorders.…”

Imagined Contact Improves Intentions towards a Hypothetical Peer with Asperger Syndrome but not Attitudes towards Peers with Asperger Syndrome in General

“…That is, it activates the same emotional and motivational responses (Dadds, Bovbjerg, Redd&Cutmore, 1997) and the same neurological mechanisms (i.e., memory and motor control) (Kosslyn, Ganis& Thompson, 2001) as in real situations. Additionally, mental imagery can involve the same concrete details and causal sequences as real experiences (Dadds et al, 1997) and can have a powerful effect on learning and decision making (Taylor, Pham, Rivkin& Armor, 1998).…”