Identity and expression processing during classical conditioning with faces

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Learning and Memory

Background:

• Classical conditioning often associates conditioned stimuli (CS+) with aversive events (UCS).
• Responses to CS+ faces are typically interpreted as the individual's identity acquiring negative emotional meaning.
• This interpretation hinges on conditioning linking CS+ face identity to UCS occurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if conditioned responses (CRs) transfer to novel faces of the same identity.
• To determine if classical conditioning relies on an association between CS+ face identity and UCS occurrence.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight participants underwent MultiCS conditioning with neutral faces (CSs) and electric shock (UCS).
• Behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) responses were recorded during passive viewing of novel faces.
• Emotional learning was confirmed by central, peripheral, evaluative, and behavioral CRs.

Main Results:

• Behavioral and EEG data showed enhanced reactions to novel expressions of previously shocked (CS+) identities compared to non-shocked (CS-) identities.
• This indicates successful conditioned response transfer within the dimension of face identity.
• EEG revealed rapid (within 100 ms) interactions between identity and expression processing, favoring emotional congruency.

Conclusions:

• Conditioning appears to rely on associating UCS occurrence with CS+ face identity.
• Fast, dynamic interplay exists between face identity and expression processing during emotional learning.
• These findings challenge interpretations solely based on specific image associations in classical conditioning.