Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2001):

Conditioned inhibition of fear-potentiated startle and skin conductance in humans.

Full Abstract

Conditioned inhibition of classical conditioning was investigated with the startle reflex and the skin conductance response (SCR) in humans using a serial presentation of the conditioned inhibitor (X) and of the conditioned stimulus (CS). The unconditioned stimulus (US) was a shock. During conditioning, participants were presented with two different reinforced CS (A, B) and with X preceding A (noted X-->A). During X-->A, A was not reinforced with the US. During the summation test, B, X-->B, and Y-->B were presented (Y was a new stimulus that tested the specificity of the inhibitory properties of X). B was not reinforced during the summation test. A, B, X, and Y were lights of different colors. Participants were divided into a low and a high anxious group based on the TPQ (C.R. Cloninger, 1987). In the low anxious group, conditioned startle potentiation and SCR responses to A were inhibited when X preceded A (noted A(XA)). This differential responding to A and A(XA) emerged earlier with the SCR than with startle. During the summation test, the inhibitory properties of X did not transfer to B. In the high anxious group, there was only a differential SCR to A and A(XA). X did not inhibit startle potentiation to A.

Author information

Author/s: Grillon, C (C); Ameli, R (R);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA. christian.grillon(-atsign-)nih.gov

Grants: R01 MH53618-01A2 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R29 MH50720 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Psychophysiology (Psychophysiology), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Sep; vol 38 (issue 5) : pp 807-15

Dates: Created 2001/10/01; Completed 2001/10/25; Revised 2009/11/11;

PMID: 11577904, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/11/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Electromyography Fear - physiology Female

Galvanic Skin Response - physiology Habituation, Psychophysiologic Humans Male Startle Reaction - physiology

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