Extinction

Question 1

What is extinction

Answer 1

The strength of the conditioned response to a stimulus will decline over successive trials when the CS is presented alone (without the US).

Has implications to treat ANV, anxiety and addiction.

Pavlov (1927) recognized that extinction is probably as important as conditioning itself as a way for the animal to adapt to a continually changing environment. Behaviour must be able to increase and decrease according to changing contingencies.

Does not destroy the first-learned information (UNlearning) but instead reflects NEW learning. ==> A “context-specific” exception to the rule (conditioning)

Question 2

Systematic desensitization

Answer 2

A step by step approach which allows you to gradually challenge your fears, build confidence, and master skills for controlling panic.

e.g. look at a pick of a plane, then video, then watch real planes, buy a ticket, pack for travel etc.

Involved 3 steps

1. Learning relaxation techniques
2. Creating a step by step list
3. Working through the list

Question 3

Interoceptive Context

Answer 3

More internal states

Drug state (e.g., Bouton et al 1990)
Hormonal state (e.g., Ahlers and Richardson 1985)
Mood state (e.g., Eich 1995)
Passage of time (e.g., Rosas and Bouton 1998)

Question 4

Exteroceptive context

Answer 4

External conditions

Room, place, environment, other external background stimuli (e.g., Smith 1988)

Question 5

Reinstatement

Answer 5

Just presenting the US on its own after extinction.

e. g. Pavlovian fear conditoning (Delamater 1997)
- Conditioning is first conducted by pairing a tone and a shock
- Then extinction is created by multiple exposures to the tone alone.
- Then, often in a separate session, the shock is presented on its own a few times.

=>When the tone is tested again, often 24 hours later, it evokes fear again.
The conditioned fear is not destoryed by extinction, can return after just exposure to US.

=> Shows that extinction is not UNlearning

Question 6

Renewal

Answer 6

Conditioning at A, extinction at B and renewal of fear if back to A.

The return to the original context typically “renews” fear of the CS (e.g., Bouton and Bolles 1979).

ABA renewal but also ABC renewal : conditioning in A, Extinguish in B, Test in C = the fear appears again (Bouton and Brooks 1993)
Here we could argue that we form an association between context and US which is not extinguished !) BUT ‘ABC renewal’ shows that is not the case

BUT Extinction might be context dependent

Question 7

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 7

Spontaneous recovery is seen after an interruption or distraction - e.g. break of 120 minutes.

It is the CR activating in the presence of CS + no US after extinction (initially high, not as high as in the original conditioning though).

The CR gets reduced after the CS and no US exposures (further extinction)

Good evidence that extinction is NOT unlearning but NEW learning

Occurs after time delay –> RW model doesn’t take that into consideration

Question 8

Reacquisition

Answer 8

We only need one exposure to the CS or CS similar stimulus to get back response similar to conditioning= show that the relationship between CS and US in not UNlearned

Question 9

Associative ambiguity

Answer 9

The ambiguity of learned CS + US in one context but CS + no US in another context

Question 10

Second learning

Answer 10

Second learning appears to be context-dependent. Through extinction, second learning occurs - where once the CS was paired with a US, new learning occurs in which the CS may be followed by no outcome.

This renders the CS ambiguous.

Question 11

Exposure therapy

Answer 11

Exposes you to the situations or objects you fear.

Through repeated exposures, you’ll feel an increasing sense of control over the situation and your anxiety will diminish.

The exposure is done in one of two ways:

• imagine the scary situation,
• or you may confront it in real life.

Question 12

Extinction in treating ANV

Answer 12

The theory predicts that these symptoms would be reduced if patients could be taught an incompatible response (such as progressive muscle relaxation), rather than the conditioned response of NV, in response to the conditioned stimuli (the clinic; the nurse).

Question 13

What can improve the effectiveness of extinction therapy?

Answer 13

1. Complete extinction over multiple contexts
2. “Booster” trails xtinction trials should take place spaced out (boosters) rather than massed in time
3. Retreiveal cues helpful in renewal and spontaneous recovery effects. (can be implemented in therapy)

Question 14

What can improve the effectiveness of extinction therapy?

Answer 14

1. Complete extinction over multiple contexts
2. “Booster” trails xtinction trials should take place spaced out (boosters) rather than massed in time
3. Retreiveal cues helpful in renewal and spontaneous recovery effects. (can be implemented in therapy)

Question 15

What can improve the effectiveness of extinction therapy?

Answer 15

1. Complete extinction over multiple contexts
2. “Booster” trails extinction trials should take place spaced out (boosters) rather than massed in time
3. Retrieval cues are helpful in renewal and spontaneous recovery effects. (can be implemented in therapy)