Working hard to avoid: Fixed-ratio response effort and maladaptive avoidance in humans.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Maladaptive avoidance is a core feature of anxiety disorders.
• Response effort's role in avoidance acquisition and extinction is understudied.
• Understanding effortful avoidance may improve clinical treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of high versus low response effort on avoidance extinction and return.
• To examine the role of fixed-ratio (FR) schedules in maintaining avoidance behavior.
• To assess fear and threat expectancy associated with effortful avoidance.

Main Methods:

• Two laboratory-based studies using a multi-cue avoidance paradigm.
• Response effort operationalized via fixed-ratio (FR) reinforcement schedules.
• Measures included behavior, self-report, and physiological responses (skin conductance).

Main Results:

• High response-effort avoidance persisted across both danger and safety cues.
• Sustained and reinstated fear and threat expectancy were observed.
• Skin conductance responses were similar across experiments, regardless of effort.

Conclusions:

• High response effort contributes to extinction-resistant avoidance in humans.
• Effortful avoidance, even for safety cues, maintains fear and threat.
• Findings have implications for translational research and treatment development for anxiety.