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Startle during backward evaluative conditioning is not modulated by instructions.

Luke J S Green1, Camilla C Luck1, Ottmar V Lipp1

  • 1School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.

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|September 2, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Instructions about backward conditioning influenced explicit valence ratings but not startle responses. Startle blink modulation reflected the immediate emotional state, not learned CS valence from instructions.

Keywords:
Evaluative conditioningattitudesbackward conditioningpropositional learningstartle blinkstartle modulation

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Backward conditional stimuli (CSs) that stop unconditional stimuli (USs) can acquire opposite valence.
  • The effect of such instructions on physiological responses like startle blink modulation is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if instructions about backward CS-US relationships affect startle blink modulation.
  • To compare the influence of explicit instructions versus observation on learned valence.

Main Methods:

  • Two groups received concurrent forward and backward conditioning with varied US valence.
  • One group received "start-stop" instructions, the other "observe" instructions.
  • Startle magnitude was measured during conditioning; valence ratings were collected post-conditioning.

Main Results:

  • "Start-stop" instructions led to contrast effects in valence ratings for backward CSs.
  • Startle magnitude was higher for backward CSs paired with positive USs in both groups.
  • Startle blink modulation remained unaffected by instructional conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Startle blink modulation appears to reflect the immediate emotional state during stimulus presentation.
  • Propositional information from instructions does not alter startle responses, unlike explicit valence ratings.
  • This suggests distinct neural pathways for instructed valence and automatic emotional responses.