Aversive imagery causes de novo fear conditioning (Open Data and Open Materials)

<strong>Open Data and Open Materials of: Mueller, E. M., Sperl, M. F. J., &amp; Panitz, C. (2019). Aversive imagery causes de novo fear conditioning. <em>Psychological Science</em>, <em>30</em>(7), 1001–1015.</strong> In classical fear conditioning, neutral conditioned stimuli (CS) that have been paired with aversive physical unconditioned stimuli eventually trigger fear responses. Here, we test whether aversive mental images systematically paired with a CS may also cause de novo fear learning in the absence of any external aversive stimulation. In two experiments, <em>N</em>=45 and <em>N</em>=41 participants were first trained to produce aversive, neutral, or no imagery in response to one of three different visual imagery cues. In a subsequent imagery-based differential conditioning paradigm, each of the three cues systematically co-terminated with one of three different neutral faces. Although the face that was paired with the aversive imagery cue was never paired with aversive external stimuli or threat-related instructions, participants rated it as more arousing, unpleasant, and threatening and displayed relative fear bradycardia and fear-potentiated startle. These results could be relevant for the development of fear and related disorders without trauma.公开数据集与开源材料来源：Mueller, E. M.、Sperl, M. F. J. 与 Panitz, C.（2019年）。《厌恶意象引发全新恐惧条件反射》，发表于《心理科学》（*Psychological Science*），第30卷第7期，第1001–1015页。在经典恐惧条件反射范式中，与厌恶性躯体非条件刺激（unconditioned stimulus, US）配对的中性条件刺激（conditioned stimulus, CS）最终会诱发恐惧反应。本研究旨在检验：当中性条件刺激与厌恶性心理意象进行系统性配对时，即便不存在任何外部厌恶性刺激，是否同样能够引发全新恐惧学习。两项实验中，分别有N=45与N=41名被试，首先接受训练，针对三种不同的视觉意象线索之一，分别生成厌恶性意象、中性意象或不生成任何意象。在后续基于意象的差别性条件反射范式中，三种线索各自与三张不同的中性面孔进行系统性同步终止配对。尽管与厌恶性意象线索配对的面孔从未与外部厌恶性刺激或威胁性指令配对过，但被试仍对该面孔的唤醒度、不愉快程度与威胁性评分更高，同时表现出恐惧心动过缓（fear bradycardia）与恐惧易化惊反射（fear-potentiated startle）。上述研究结果或可为无创伤性恐惧及相关障碍的发病机制研究与干预开发提供参考。