Research Article
Offset-Control Attenuates Context Conditioning Induced by US-unpredictability in a Human Conditioned Suppression Paradigm
Authors:
Ann Meulders ,
Research Group on Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, BE
Jelle Mampaey,
Institute for Behavioural Sciences, University of Hasselt, BE
Yannick Boddez,
Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, BE
Fernando Blanco,
Laboratorio de Psicología del Aprendizaje, Universidad de Deusto, ES
Debora Vansteenwegen,
Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, BE
Frank Baeyens
Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, BE
Abstract
We investigated whether offset-control of the unconditioned stimulus (US) reduces context conditioning induced by US-unpredictability within a human conditioned suppression preparation. We also examined lack of control vs. loss of control. Three groups (No Controllability, NC; Controllability, C; Loss of Controllability, LC) received unsignaled USs during two learning phases (ACQ1-2). The NC group, never had offset-control, whereas the C group, always had offset-control. The LC group, had offset-control during ACQ1, but not during ACQ2. Results indicated that US-unpredictability led to contextual conditioned suppression during ACQ1, only when participants did not have offset-control; when they did, no context conditioning was established. From ACQ1 to ACQ2, contextual conditioned suppression increased in the LC group, but it was not more pronounced than in the NC group. These data suggest that offset-control attenuates context conditioning induced by US-unpredictability and – at least in this paradigm – loss of control is not worse than lack of control.
How to Cite:
Meulders, A. et al., (2013). Offset-Control Attenuates Context Conditioning Induced by US-unpredictability in a Human Conditioned Suppression Paradigm. Psychologica Belgica. 53(1), pp.39–56. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/pb-53-1-39
Published on
01 Mar 2013.
Peer Reviewed
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