Although reconsolidation opens up new avenues to erase excessive fear memory, subtle boundary conditions put constraints on retrieval-induced plasticity. Reconsolidation may only take place when memory reactivation involves an experience that engages learning (prediction error). Thus far, it has not been possible determine the optimal degree of novelty required for destabilizing memory. The occurrence prediction error could be inferred from observation a process itself. Here, we provide...

Fear conditioning is one of the prime paradigms behavioural neuroscience and a source tremendous insight in fundamentals learning memory psychology neurobiology emotion. It also widely regarded as model for pathogenesis anxiety disorders diathesis-stress psychopathology. Starting from apparent paradox between adaptive nature fear dysfunctional pathological anxiety, we present critique human paradigm an experimental We discuss potential benefits expanding by (1) including action tendencies...

Although disrupting reconsolidation is promising in targeting emotional memories, the conditions under which memory becomes labile are still unclear. The current study showed that post-retrieval changes expectancy as an index for prediction error may serve a read-out underlying processes engaged by reactivation. Minor environmental define whether retrieval induces or initiation of new trace even before fear extinction can be observed.

Cue-induced craving is not easily reduced by an extinction or exposure procedure and may constitute important route toward relapse in addictive behavior after treatment.In the present study, we investigated effectiveness of counterconditioning as alternative to reduce cue-induced craving, a non-clinical population.We found that cue, initially paired with chocolate consumption, did cease elicit for (repeated presentation cue without consumption), but so pairing consumption highly disliked...

There is conflicting evidence as to whether awareness required for conditioning of the skin conductance response (SCR). Recently, Schultz and Helmstetter (2010) reported SCR in contingency unaware participants by using difficult discriminate stimuli. These findings are stark contrast with other observations human fear research, showing that predominantly reflects learning. Therefore, we repeated study additionally measured startle response, which seems be less sensitive declarative knowledge...

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7), a with distinct brain distribution and putative role in anxiety, emotional responding, spatial working memory, could be an interesting therapeutic target for fear anxiety disorders. mGluR7-deficient (mGluR7-/-) mice showed essentially normal performance tests neuromotor exploratory activity passive avoidance learning but prominent anxiolytic behavior two tests. They delayed curve during the acquisition of hidden-platform water maze, three...

Participants saw a series of situations in which cue (a light appearing at certain position) could be followed by an outcome drawing tank that exploded) and were afterwards asked to rate the likelihood presence cue. In Experiments 1 2, compound cues AT KL always (AT+, KL+). During elemental phase either preceded or phase, Cue A was also paired with (A+). T elicited lower rating than Cues K L when described as being weapons but not said indicators. The magnitude this blocking effect...

Forward blocking is one of the best-documented phenomena in Pavlovian animal conditioning.According to contemporary associative learning theories, forward arises directly from hardwired basic rules that govern acquisition or expression associations.Contrary this view, here authors demonstrate rats flexible and sensitive constraints causal inference, such as violation additivity ceiling considerations.This suggests complex cognitive processes akin inferential reasoning are involved a...

Recent research suggests that outcome additivity pretraining modulates blocking in human causal learning.However, the existing evidence confounds and maximality.Here authors present for influence of presenting information about maximality (Experiment 1) 2) on subsequent forward blocking.The results Experiment 3 confirm that, with controlled, affects backward but not release from overshadowing.Finally, 4 demonstrate has a similar effect if presented after training instead before.The are...

Upon recall, a memory can enter labile state in which it requires new protein synthesis to restabilize. This two-phased reconsolidation process raises the prospect directly target excessive fear as opposed formation of inhibitory following extinction training. In our previous studies, we convincingly demonstrated that 40 mg propranolol HCl administration before or after reactivation eliminated emotional expression indexed by potentiated startle reflex. To apply this procedure clinical...

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...

The presentation of a fear memory cue can result in mere retrieval, destabilization the reactivated trace, or formation an extinction memory. interaction between degree novelty during reactivation and previous learning conditions is thought to determine outcome session. This study aimed evaluate whether contextual prevent cue-induced disruption acquired by non-asymptotic learning. To this end, was novel context original learning, followed administration propranolol, amnestic drug....

With the discovery of blocking effect, learning theory took a huge leap forward, because provided crucial clue that surprise is what drives learning.This in turn stimulated development novel association-formation theories learning.Eventually, ability to explain became nothing short touchstone for validity any learning, including propositional and other non-associative theories.The abundance publications reporting effect importance attributed it suggest robust phenomenon.Yet, current paper we...