Extinction in multiple virtual reality contexts diminishes fear reinstatement in humans.

ABSTRACT: Although conditioned fear can be effectively extinguished by unreinforced exposure to a threat cue, fear responses tend to return when the cue is encountered some time after extinction (spontaneous recovery), in a novel environment (renewal), or following presentation of an aversive stimulus (reinstatement). As extinction represents a context-dependent form of new learning, one possible strategy to circumvent the return of fear is to conduct extinction across several environments. Here, we tested the effectiveness of multiple context extinction in a two-day fear conditioning experiment using 3-D virtual reality technology to create immersive, ecologically-valid context changes. Fear-potentiated startle served as the dependent measure. All three experimental groups initially acquired fear i

SUBMITTER: Dunsmoor JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4053498 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature