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Parallel acquisition of awareness and trace eyeblink classical conditioning
J R Manns1, R E Clark, L R Squire
1Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, California 92039, USA.
Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|October 21, 2000
Summary
Trace eyeblink conditioning requires awareness. Predicting the unconditioned stimulus (US) promoted awareness and conditioning, while predicting eyeblinks inhibited both, showing parallel development of knowledge and conditioning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Learning and Memory
Background:
- Trace eyeblink conditioning relies on the hippocampus and requires awareness of stimulus contingencies.
- Prior studies assessed awareness at fixed points, limiting understanding of its development during conditioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trial-by-trial development of awareness and its relationship with trace eyeblink conditioning.
- To examine how different prediction tasks influence awareness and conditioning acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Differential trace eyeblink conditioning was used with participants predicting either the unconditioned stimulus (US) or their eyeblinks.
- Knowledge acquisition about stimulus contingencies was tracked concurrently with conditioning.
Main Results:
- Predicting eyeblinks impaired both awareness acquisition and eyeblink conditioning.
- Predicting the unconditioned stimulus (US) enhanced awareness and facilitated conditioning.
- Knowledge acquisition and conditioning acquisition occurred in parallel.
Conclusions:
- The development of awareness and trace eyeblink conditioning are closely linked and occur concurrently.
- The specific task demands (prediction type) significantly modulate the acquisition of awareness and conditioning.