Sensitivity to masked conditioned stimuli predicts conditioned response magnitude under masked conditions.

Full Abstract

Expression of conditioned fear has been reported to be independent of perceptual awareness of conditioned stimuli (CSs). Previous studies have been criticized, however, for not adequately assessing perceptual awareness. We fear-conditioned participants to one of two symbols and measured skin conductance responses to dichoptically masked and unmasked CSs. Participants also performed a target detection task and sensitivity (d') to the masked conditioned stimuli (CS+, CS-) was measured. Results showed that sensitivity under masking conditions was related to conditioned responses to masked CSs but not unmasked CSs. Thus, a strong relationship between expression of conditioned fear and awareness of the CS+ emerges when the latter is assessed by signal detection methods. Without consensus on how awareness should be defined, these findings bring balance to previous studies that have typically used less sensitive assessments of awareness.

Author information

Author/s: Cornwell, Brian R (BR); Echiverri, Aileen M (AM); Grillon, Christian (C);

Affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 15K North Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. cornwellb(-atsign-)mail.nih.gov

Grants: Z01 MH002798-06 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

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

Reference: 2007-May; vol 44 (issue 3) : pp 403-6

Dates: Created 2007/04/16; Completed 2007/07/16; Revised 2009/06/10;

PMID: 17433097, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/11/2009, IMS Date: )

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

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