TY - JOUR
T1 - Teens that fear screams
T2 - A comparison of fear conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement in adolescents and adults
AU - Den, Miriam Liora
AU - Graham, Bronwyn M.
AU - Newall, Carol
AU - Richardson, Rick
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - This study investigated differences between adolescents and adults on fear conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement (i.e., the recovery of conditioned fear following re-exposure to the unconditioned stimulus [US] post-extinction). Participants underwent differential conditioning (i.e., the Screaming Lady) where one neutral face (CS+) was followed by the same face expressing fear and a loud scream (US) while another neutral face (CS-) remained neutral. Extinction involved non-reinforced presentations of both CSs, after which participants were reinstated (2xUSs) or not. On two self-report measures, both ages showed conditioning, good extinction learning and retention, and reinstatement-induced relapse. However, only adolescents showed conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement on the eye tracking measure; relapse on this measure could not be assessed in adults given they did not show initial conditioning. Lastly, higher levels of depression predicted stronger conditioning and weaker extinction in adolescents only. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for adolescent anxiety disorders.
AB - This study investigated differences between adolescents and adults on fear conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement (i.e., the recovery of conditioned fear following re-exposure to the unconditioned stimulus [US] post-extinction). Participants underwent differential conditioning (i.e., the Screaming Lady) where one neutral face (CS+) was followed by the same face expressing fear and a loud scream (US) while another neutral face (CS-) remained neutral. Extinction involved non-reinforced presentations of both CSs, after which participants were reinstated (2xUSs) or not. On two self-report measures, both ages showed conditioning, good extinction learning and retention, and reinstatement-induced relapse. However, only adolescents showed conditioning, extinction, and reinstatement on the eye tracking measure; relapse on this measure could not be assessed in adults given they did not show initial conditioning. Lastly, higher levels of depression predicted stronger conditioning and weaker extinction in adolescents only. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for adolescent anxiety disorders.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84944515104&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/455431
U2 - 10.1002/dev.21330
DO - 10.1002/dev.21330
M3 - Article
VL - 57
SP - 818
EP - 832
JO - Developmental Psychobiology
JF - Developmental Psychobiology
SN - 0012-1630
IS - 7
ER -