Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study
Attentional control (AC) and fear extinction learning are known to be involved in pathological anxiety. In this study we explored whether individual differences in non-emotional AC were associated with individual differences in the magnitude and gradient of fear extinction (learning and recall). In...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01654/full |
| _version_ | 1811240839180976128 |
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| author | Eduard Forcadell Eduard Forcadell David Torrents-Rodas David Torrents-Rodas Devi Treen Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel Tortella-Feliu Miquel Tortella-Feliu |
| author_facet | Eduard Forcadell Eduard Forcadell David Torrents-Rodas David Torrents-Rodas Devi Treen Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel Tortella-Feliu Miquel Tortella-Feliu |
| author_sort | Eduard Forcadell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Attentional control (AC) and fear extinction learning are known to be involved in pathological anxiety. In this study we explored whether individual differences in non-emotional AC were associated with individual differences in the magnitude and gradient of fear extinction (learning and recall). In 50 individuals with fear of spiders, we collected measures of non-emotional AC by means of self-report and by assessing the functioning of the major attention networks (executive control, orienting, and alerting). The participants then underwent a paradigm assessing fear extinction learning and extinction recall. The two components of the orienting network functioning (costs and benefits) were significantly associated with fear extinction gradient over and above the effects of trait anxiety. Specifically, participants with enhanced orienting costs (i.e., difficulties in disengaging attention from cues not relevant for the task) showed faster extinction learning, while those with enhanced orienting benefits (i.e., attention facilitated by valid cues) exhibited faster extinction recall as measured by fear-potentiated startle and Unconditioned Stimulus expectancies, respectively. Our findings suggest that, in non-emotional conditions, the orienting component of attention may be predictive of fear extinction. They also show that the use of fear extinction gradients and the exploration of individual differences in non-emotional AC (using performance-based measures of attentional network functioning) can provide a better understanding of individual differences in fear learning. Our findings also may help to understand differences in exposure therapy outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:27:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43fecf7bb66145e698df6acaa2b9dfd2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:27:04Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-43fecf7bb66145e698df6acaa2b9dfd22022-12-22T03:31:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782017-09-01810.3389/fpsyg.2017.01654295820Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory StudyEduard Forcadell0Eduard Forcadell1David Torrents-Rodas2David Torrents-Rodas3Devi Treen4Miquel A. Fullana5Miquel A. Fullana6Miquel A. Fullana7Miquel Tortella-Feliu8Miquel Tortella-Feliu9Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainSpecialized Department in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability, Institut Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona, Parc Hospitalari Martí i Julià, Salt, SpainInstitute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainAnxiety Unit, Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Hospital del Mar, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, SpainIMIM, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, SpainUniversity Research Institute on Health Sciencies (IUNICS), Universitat de les Illes Balears, Mallorca, SpainPROMOSAM Red de Investigación en Procesos, Mecanismos y Tratamientos Psicológicos para la Promoción de la Salud Mental, Mallorca, SpainAttentional control (AC) and fear extinction learning are known to be involved in pathological anxiety. In this study we explored whether individual differences in non-emotional AC were associated with individual differences in the magnitude and gradient of fear extinction (learning and recall). In 50 individuals with fear of spiders, we collected measures of non-emotional AC by means of self-report and by assessing the functioning of the major attention networks (executive control, orienting, and alerting). The participants then underwent a paradigm assessing fear extinction learning and extinction recall. The two components of the orienting network functioning (costs and benefits) were significantly associated with fear extinction gradient over and above the effects of trait anxiety. Specifically, participants with enhanced orienting costs (i.e., difficulties in disengaging attention from cues not relevant for the task) showed faster extinction learning, while those with enhanced orienting benefits (i.e., attention facilitated by valid cues) exhibited faster extinction recall as measured by fear-potentiated startle and Unconditioned Stimulus expectancies, respectively. Our findings suggest that, in non-emotional conditions, the orienting component of attention may be predictive of fear extinction. They also show that the use of fear extinction gradients and the exploration of individual differences in non-emotional AC (using performance-based measures of attentional network functioning) can provide a better understanding of individual differences in fear learning. Our findings also may help to understand differences in exposure therapy outcomes.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01654/fullattentional controlattentional network functioningfear extinctionextinction learningextinction recallanxiety disorders |
| spellingShingle | Eduard Forcadell Eduard Forcadell David Torrents-Rodas David Torrents-Rodas Devi Treen Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel A. Fullana Miquel Tortella-Feliu Miquel Tortella-Feliu Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study Frontiers in Psychology attentional control attentional network functioning fear extinction extinction learning extinction recall anxiety disorders |
| title | Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full | Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study |
| title_fullStr | Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study |
| title_short | Attentional Control and Fear Extinction in Subclinical Fear: An Exploratory Study |
| title_sort | attentional control and fear extinction in subclinical fear an exploratory study |
| topic | attentional control attentional network functioning fear extinction extinction learning extinction recall anxiety disorders |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01654/full |
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