Shifty eyes: the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on gaze behaviour during threat conditioning

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/uqap3
• Publication Date: 2022-08-26T15:45:18Z
• Authors: Claudia Rodriguez...; Shannon Jade Wake; Helen Frances Dodd; Eugene McSorley; Carien M. van Reekum; Jayne Morriss
• Keywords: Extinction (optical mineralogy); Skin conductance; Trait

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals with high levels of Intolerance Uncertainty (IU) have difficulty updating threat associations to safety associations. Notably, prior focused on measuring IU-related differences in and learning using arousal-based measures such as skin conductance response. Here we assessed whether could be captured eye-tracking metrics linked gaze behaviours dwelling scanning. Participants (N = 144) completed self-report questionnaires assessing IU trait anxiety. Eye movements were then recorded during each conditioning phase: acquisition, extinction learning, retention. Fixation count fixation duration served indices conditioned responding. Patterns typically reported for physiology observed the acquisition some extent but not There was little evidence specific between disrupted (e.g., greater differential responses vs. safe cues retention). While there tentative associated shorter durations scanning) retention, this effect did remain after controlling anxiety similarly predicted overall further However, only IU-based remained significant learning. Our results inform models anxiety, particularly relation how individual modulate behaviour conditioning.