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Ethnic differences in physiological responses to fear conditioned stimuli
Karen G Martínez1, José A Franco-Chaves1, Mohammed R Milad2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Plos One
|December 16, 2014
Summary
Physiological responses to novelty differ between ethnic groups, particularly in males. This study compared skin conductance responses (SCR) in Hispanic and White non-Hispanic men and women.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Emotional expression is often assumed to be universal, but cultural and ethnic variations exist.
- Previous research on ethnic differences in emotional expression relied on self-reports and behavioral observations, lacking physiological data.
- Skin conductance responses (SCR) offer an objective measure of physiological arousal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ethnic differences in physiological responses during fear conditioning and extinction.
- To compare the skin conductance responses (SCR) of Hispanic (Puerto Rican) and White non-Hispanic individuals.
- To determine if observed differences are related to fear learning or novelty responses.
Main Methods:
- Compared SCRs of 78 healthy subjects (39 Puerto Rican, 39 Massachusetts) in a fear conditioning and extinction task.
- Subjects were recruited from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Boston, Massachusetts.
- Participants were matched for age and educational level, and divided by sex.
Main Results:
- No significant SCR differences were found between females from Puerto Rico and Massachusetts.
- Puerto Rican males exhibited significantly higher SCRs compared to Massachusetts males and Puerto Rican females.
- Removing habituation phase differences eliminated subsequent phase differences, indicating novelty response rather than fear learning.
Conclusions:
- Ethnic differences in physiological responses to novel stimuli exist, particularly in males.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering ethnicity and sex in psychophysiological research.
- Results may inform the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders.
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