Instructed extinction differentially affects the emotional and cognitive expression of associative fear memory

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01450.x
• Publication Date: 2012-09-07T12:37:52Z
• Authors: Dieuwke Sevenster; Tom Beckers; Merel Kindt
• Keywords: Extinction (optical mineralogy); Associative property; Emotional Memory; Expression (computer science); Emotional expression

Instructed extinction after fear conditioning is relatively effective in attenuating electrodermal responding. Testing the single-process account of learning, we examined whether this manipulation similarly affects startle response. Skin conductance responses (SCRs), responses, and online unconditioned stimulus (US) expectancy ratings were measured during acquisition (Day 1), extinction, reinstatement 2). Before onset, half subjects instructed that conditioned would not be followed by US (Instructed Extinction) whereas other (Normal Extinction). This simple instruction completely abolished both differential SCR ratings, but Although facilitated it did prevent recovery The present findings are better explained a dual- rather than learning.