Cited by 110Memory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and InfluencesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Contextual-specificity of short-delay extinction in humans: Renewal of fear-potentiated startle in a virtual environment

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Alvarez, Ruben P., Johnson, Linda, Grillon, Christian·2007·Learning & Memory

Abstract

A recent fear-potentiated startle study in rodents suggested that extinction was not context dependent when extinction was conducted after a short delay following acquisition, suggesting that extinction can lead to erasure of fear learning in some circumstances. The main objective of this study was to attempt to replicate these findings in humans by examining the context specificity of short-delay extinction in an ABA renewal procedure using virtual reality environments. A second objective was to examine whether renewal, if any, would be influenced by context conditioning. Subjects underwent differential aversive conditioning in virtual context A, which was immediately followed by extinction in virtual context B. Extinction was followed by tests of renewal in context A and B, with the order counterbalanced across subjects. Results showed that extinction was context dependent. Evidence for renewal was established using fear-potentiated startle as well as skin conductance and fear ratings. In addition, although contextual anxiety was greater in the acquisition context than in the extinction context during renewal, as assessed with startle, context conditioning did not influence the renewal effect. These data do not support the view that extinction conducted shortly after acquisition is context independent. Hence, they do not provide evidence that extinction can lead to erasure of a fear memory established via Pavlovian conditioning.

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  1. [35]35. Venables, P.H. and Christie, M.J. 1980. Electrodermal activity. In Techniques in psychophysiology (eds. I. Martin and P.H. Venables), pp. 4-67. Wiley, New York.

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Authors
Alvarez, R. P., Johnson, L., & Grillon, C.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Venue
Learning & Memory
Published
2007-04
Volume
14
Issue
4
Pages
247-253
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
OpenAlex
W2012740961
Cited by
110
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
fear extinction, context specificity, fear-potentiated startle, renewal, contextual conditioning, fear conditioning, virtual reality, skin conductance, fear memory
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety, Avoidance Learning, Blinking, Conditioning, Classical, Electromyography, Electroshock, Extinction, Psychological, Fear, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Humans, Male, Reflex, Startle, Time Factors, User-Computer Interface

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