The effect of (un)predictability on contextual fear: A replication of the basic findings

• Autores: Iberico, Carlos, Vansteenwegen, Debora, Vervliet, Bram, Hermans, Dirk
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2007
• Institución: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
• Repositorio: Revistas - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:revistaspuc:article/323
• Enlace del recurso: http://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/index.php/psicologia/article/view/323
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Context conditioning; fear; unpredictability; condicionamiento contextual; miedo; impredictabilidad

The aim of this experiment was to study the role of (un)predictability in a fear conditioning paradigm: analyzing the differences in both cue and context conditioning. For this reason, we manipulated the presentation of the unconditional stimulus (US) using two conditions: a paired presentation of the US-CS (predictable) and an unpaired presentation of the US (unpredictable). We manipulated the context using the lightning of the experimental room: dark and light conditions. Our dependent variables were the skin conductance response (SCR) and the startle reflex measurement. Participants were 65 students from the University of Leuven. Results showed more context conditioning in the unpaired block (unpredictable) compared to the paired one and cue conditioning in the paired block (predictable).