Unconditioned stimulus rehearsal and the retention and enhancement of differential "fear" conditioning: Effects of trait and state anxiety.
Abstract
In 2 experiments, the effect of anxiety on the cued-unconditioned stimulus (UCS) rehearsal phenomenon was investigated (T. Jones & G. C. L. Davey, 1990). In Experiment 1, postconditioning rehearsal of the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) resulted in an increase in conditioned response (CR) strength during extinction, but only in subjects with high levels of trait anxiety. An induced mood procedure was used in Experiment 2, and a postrehearsal increase in CR strength was found in subjects who had undergone induced somatic anxiety but not in subjects who had undergone induced worrying or who underwent a neutral induction procedure. In both experiments, the increase in CR strength following UCS rehearsal was associated with inflated ratings of the aversiveness of rehearsing the UCS. These results are discussed in terms of the ways in which anxiety might influence UCS rehearsal and facilitate physiological CRs to the conditioned stimulus.
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Worry involves repeated rehearsal of catastrophic outcomes.
“Worrying involves repeated rehearsal of catastrophic outcomes (Borkovec, 1985; Davey & Matchett, 1994).”
From A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry (2011) · cites this paper as Davey & Matchett, 1994
Rehearsing an aversive unconditioned stimulus in thought keeps a conditioned fear response alive over repeated nonreinforced presentations of a neutral conditioned stimulus.
“Moreover, in a series of studies, Jones, Davey, and colleagues have shown that cognitive rehearsal of an aversive unconditioned stimulus (which is similar to repetitive negative thought found in worry) maintains a conditioned fear response over successive nonreinforced presentations of a neutral conditioned stimulus (Davey & Matchett, 1994; Jones & Davey, 1990).”
From A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry (2011) · cites this paper as Davey & Matchett, 1994
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- Authors
- Davey, G. C. L., & Matchett, G.
- Affiliations
- City, University of London (GB)
- ORCID
- Davey, Graham C. L.
- Venue
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology
- Published
- 1994-11
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 708-718
- ISSN
- 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1846
- OpenAlex
- W1981238732
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- fear conditioning, trait anxiety, state anxiety, extinction, induced anxiety, aversiveness, differential conditioning
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Conditioning, Psychological, Cues, Fear, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Humans, Male
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