Rule-based generalization of threat without similarity

Marstaller, Lars; Al-Jiboury, Rizah; Kemp, Andrew H.; Dymond, Simon

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108042

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 41 publications

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“…Rule consistency refers to the phenomenon where individuals, having learned the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) association based on specific rules, and extend fear responses during the process of recognizing GS that possess analogous rules. 16 Indeed, fear generalization can only occur subsequent to the acquisition of CS-US associations. Therefore, when assessing the potential threat association of GS, individuals tend to draw on their previous learning experiences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contingency Reversal in Conditioned Fear Learning: The Moderated Mediation Model of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Instruction

Gao,

Fan,

et al. 2024

PRBM

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Objective The study aimed to examine the roles of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in conditioned fear learning under an uncertain context induced by the contingency reversal of the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus (CS-US). Methods The study sample comprised 53 participants, randomly divided into two groups: a non-instruction group and an instruction group. The experimental procedure encompassed five stages: pre-acquisition, acquisition, generalization, reversal acquisition, and reversal generalization. Our study primarily focused on analyzing a moderated mediation model. Results In the instructed group, we observed that the reversed fear generalization response was directly influenced by the pre-reversal fear generalization response, while also being indirectly mediated by the IU factor. However, in the non-instructed group, we did not find a significant mediating effect of IU. Moreover, we noted that the mediation of IU was contingent on the instructional information. It is noteworthy that anxiety did not exhibit a discernible role in conditioned fear within the uncertainty condition in our study. Conclusion The findings provide novel insights into fear-related phenomena, emphasizing the intricate interplay between individual traits and fear generalization under conditions of uncertainty. They contribute to understanding the mechanisms of emotional and cognitive interactions in uncertain conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contingency Reversal in Conditioned Fear Learning: The Moderated Mediation Model of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Instruction

Gao,

Fan,

et al. 2024

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Far from the threatening crowd: Generalisation of conditioned threat expectancy and fear in COVID-19 lockdown

Dymond,

Cameron,

Zuj

et al. 2024

Learn Behav

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Fear and anxiety are rarely confined to specific stimuli or situations. In fear generalisation, there is a spread of fear responses elicited by physically dissimilar generalisation stimuli (GS) along a continuum between danger and safety. The current study investigated fear generalisation with a novel online task using COVID-19-relevant stimuli (i.e., busy or quiet shopping street/mall scenes) during pandemic lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom. Participants (N = 50) first completed clinically relevant trait measures before commencing a habituation phase, where two conditioned stimuli (CSs; i.e., a busy or quiet high street/mall scene) were presented. Participants then underwent fear conditioning where one conditioned stimulus (CS+) was followed by an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US; a loud female scream accompanied by a facial photograph of a female displaying a fearful emotion) and another (CS-) was not. In a test phase, six generalisation stimuli were presented where the US was withheld, and participants provided threat expectancy and fear ratings for all stimuli. Following successful conditioning, fear generalization was observed for both threat expectancy and fear ratings. Trait worry partially predicted generalised threat expectancy and COVID-19 fear strongly predicted generalised fear. In conclusion, a generalisation gradient was evident using an online remote generalisation task with images of busy/quiet streets during the pandemic. Worry and fear of COVID-19 predicted fear generalisation.

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Rule-based generalization of threat without similarity

Cited by 2 publications

References 41 publications

Contingency Reversal in Conditioned Fear Learning: The Moderated Mediation Model of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Instruction

Contingency Reversal in Conditioned Fear Learning: The Moderated Mediation Model of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Instruction

Far from the threatening crowd: Generalisation of conditioned threat expectancy and fear in COVID-19 lockdown

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