Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
User Compliance and Behavioral Adaptation Associated With Supine Avoidance Therapy
Daniel Levendowski1, David Cunnington2, John Swieca2
1a Advanced Brain Monitoring, Inc ., Carlsbad , California , USA.
Abstract:
This study investigates behavioral adaptation to vibrotactile position-avoidance therapy during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (n =135) across 15 to 52 weeks. The overall compliance, based on nights used ≥ 4 hr, was 71%. Overall regular use, that is, ≥ 4 hr/night over 70% of nights, was 88%. Poor early compliance strongly predicted poor long-term treatment adherence, with 92% of those noncompliant across the first 12 weeks of therapy remaining noncompliant. Conversely, 21% of those with compliant utilization in the short term became noncompliant in the long term. It appears that patients do not habituate to the stimulus during sleep, nor was there a training effect associated with long-term use.
Related Concept Videos
Behavior Therapy
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Behavior Modification
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications

