Differential acquisition, extinction, and reinstatement of conditioned suppression in mice

Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2007 Oct;60(10):1313-20. doi: 10.1080/17470210701515785.

Abstract

In animals, the reappearance of conditioned fear responses after extinction has been primarily investigated using single-cue conditioning paradigms. However, a differential paradigm can overcome several of the disadvantages associated with a single-cue procedure. In the present study, the reinstatement phenomenon was assessed in mice using a differential conditioned suppression paradigm. In a first phase, one conditioned stimulus (CS + ) was consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US; footshock) while another CS (CS-) was not, resulting in selective suppression of previously trained instrumental behaviour during the CS + . After the extinction phase, half of the animals (reinstatement group) were presented with unsignalled USs, while the other half were not (control group). A differential return of conditioned responding was observed in the reinstatement group, but not in the control group. The implications of these findings for future conditioning research are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Conditioning, Psychological*
  • Extinction, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Learning*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*
  • Repression, Psychology*