Developmental aspects of fear: Comparing the acquisition and generalization of conditioned fear in children and adults

Developmental Psychobiology
Miriam A SchielePaul Pauli

Abstract

Most research on human fear conditioning and its generalization has focused on adults whereas only little is known about these processes in children. Direct comparisons between child and adult populations are needed to determine developmental risk markers of fear and anxiety. We compared 267 children and 285 adults in a differential fear conditioning paradigm and generalization test. Skin conductance responses (SCR) and ratings of valence and arousal were obtained to indicate fear learning. Both groups displayed robust and similar differential conditioning on subjective and physiological levels. However, children showed heightened fear generalization compared to adults as indexed by higher arousal ratings and SCR to the generalization stimuli. Results indicate overgeneralization of conditioned fear as a developmental correlate of fear learning. The developmental change from a shallow to a steeper generalization gradient is likely related to the maturation of brain structures that modulate efficient discrimination between danger and (ambiguous) safety cues.

References

Mar 1, 1983·Journal of Comparative Psychology·B A Campbell, V Haroutunian
Jun 9, 2000·Annual Review of Neuroscience·J E LeDoux
Mar 1, 2002·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Animal Behavior Processes·Peter F Lovibond, David R Shanks
Jun 20, 2003·Journal of Neurocytology·Joaquín M Fuster
May 12, 2005·Behaviour Research and Therapy·Shmuel LissekDaniel S Pine
Jan 5, 2008·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·Jennifer Y F LauDaniel S Pine
Apr 11, 2008·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·B J CaseyTodd A Hare
Jun 10, 2008·Behaviour Research and Therapy·Michelle G CraskeEdward M Ornitz
Dec 24, 2008·Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie·Jennifer A Vloet, Ulrich F Hagenah
Jul 1, 2009·Psychiatry Research·Nim TottenhamCharles Nelson
Jul 25, 2009·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Lisa M Shin, Israel Liberzon
Sep 1, 2009·The Psychiatric Clinics of North America·Katja BeesdoDaniel S Pine
Nov 18, 2009·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Shmuel LissekChristian Grillon
Jan 25, 2011·NeuroImage·Joseph E DunsmoorKevin S LaBar
Mar 4, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Jennifer Y LauDaniel S Pine
Nov 11, 2011·Developmental Psychobiology·Catherine R GlennGreg Hajcak
Sep 26, 2012·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Catherine R GlennGreg Hajcak
Apr 27, 2013·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Sheng ZhangChiang-shan R Li
Sep 5, 2013·Biological Psychiatry·Shmuel LissekChristian Grillon
Oct 16, 2015·Behavior Therapy·Daniella Tinoco-GonzálezRafael Torrubia

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 6, 2016·Journal of Neural Transmission·Eli R LebowitzRuth Feldman
Oct 12, 2016·Journal of Anxiety Disorders·Lea M AhrensMatthias J Wieser
Jun 18, 2019·Psychophysiology·S LisM Bohus
Jan 15, 2020·Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics·Marta AndreattaPaul Pauli
Mar 27, 2019·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·Eric W Lindsey
Jun 19, 2019·Learning & Memory·Alexandra O CohenCatherine A Hartley
Jun 27, 2020·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Tanja JovanovicKerry J Ressler
Dec 23, 2019·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Julia ReinhardMarcel Romanos
Jun 4, 2019·Psychophysiology·Marta Andreatta, Paul Pauli
Nov 23, 2020·Biological Psychiatry·Michael TreanorMichelle G Craske
Feb 2, 2021·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Catherina WurstAndreas Menke
Oct 23, 2018·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·Hilary A MarusakChristine A Rabinak
Mar 24, 2021·Depression and Anxiety·Yael Skversky-BlocqTomer Shechner
May 14, 2021·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Julia ReinhardMarcel Romanos
Aug 18, 2021·Biological Psychiatry : Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·Kati RoesmannMarkus Junghöfer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Brainproducts V ‐ Amp ‐
Presentation
Sqirlz Morph
SPSS
Vision Recorder
NimStim
Vision Analyzer

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.