Publication:
Slower Reacquisition After Partial Extinction in Human Contingency Learning

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Date

2016

Authors

Morris, Joaquin
Barberia, Itxaso
Vadillo, Miguel A.
Andrades, Ainhoa
Lopez, Francisco J.

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Amer psychological assoc
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Abstract

Extinction is a very relevant learning phenomenon from a theoretical and applied point of view. One of its most relevant features is that relapse phenomena often take place once the extinction training has been completed. Accordingly, as extinction-based therapies constitute the most widespread empirically validated treatment of anxiety disorders, one of their most important limitations is this potential relapse. We provide the first demonstration of relapse reduction in human contingency learning using mild aversive stimuli. This effect was found after partial extinction (i.e., reinforced trials were occasionally experienced during extinction, Experiment 1) and progressive extinction treatments (Experiment 3), and it was not only because of differences in uncertainty levels between the partial and a standard extinction group (Experiment 2). The theoretical explanation of these results, the potential uses of this strategy in applied situations, and its current limitations are discussed.

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MeSH Terms

Analysis of Variance
Association Learning
Cues
Extinction, Psychological
Female
Humans
Male
Reinforcement, Psychology
Students
Uncertainty
Universities

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Keywords

extinction, contingency learning, relapse, aversive learning, Occasional reinforced trials, Fear extinction, Context, Reconsolidation, Diminution, Retrieval, Responses, Validity, Relapse, Memory

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