A History of Avoidance Does Not Impact Extinction Learning in Male Rats

Overview

Journal NPJ Sci Learn

Specialty Psychology

Date 2024 Feb 24

PMID 38402221

Authors

Alba Lopez-Moraga

Laura Luyten

Tom Beckers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pervasive avoidance is one of the central symptoms of all anxiety-related disorders. In treatment, avoidance behaviors are typically discouraged because they are assumed to maintain anxiety. Yet, it is not clear if engaging in avoidance is always detrimental. In this study, we used a platform-mediated avoidance task to investigate the influence of avoidance history on extinction learning in male rats. Our results show that having the opportunity to avoid during fear acquisition training does not significantly influence the extinction of auditory-cued fear in rats subjected to this platform-mediated avoidance procedure, which constitutes a realistic approach/avoidance conflict. This holds true irrespective of whether or not avoidance was possible during the extinction phase. This suggests that imposing a realistic cost on avoidance behavior prevents the adverse effects that avoidance has been claimed to have on extinction. However, avoidance does not appear to have clear positive effects on extinction learning nor on retention either.

Citing Articles

Social context modulates active avoidance: Contributions of the anterior cingulate cortex in male and female rats.

Ruble S, Payne K, Kramer C, West L, Ness H, Erickson G Neurobiol Stress. 2024; 34():100702.

PMID: 39737250 PMC: 11683269. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100702.

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