A1 Journal article (refereed)
Exploring the ‘black box’ of anxiety : an ERP study of non-consciously triggered fear generalization (2024)

Mei, Y., Becker, B., Leppänen, P. H., & Lei, Y. (2024). Exploring the ‘black box’ of anxiety : an ERP study of non-consciously triggered fear generalization. Behaviour Research and Therapy, In Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104552

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mei, Ying; Becker, Benjamin; Leppänen, Paavo H.T.; Lei, Yi

Journal or series: Behaviour Research and Therapy

ISSN: 0005-7967

eISSN: 1873-622X

Publication year: 2024

Volume: In Press

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104552

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

Individuals with anxiety disorders frequently display heightened fear responses, even in situations where is no imminent danger. We hypothesize that these irrational fear responses are related to automatic processing of fear generalization. The initial automatic detection of stimuli often operates at a non-conscious level. However, whether fear generalization can occur when the cues are not perceived consciously remains unclear. The current study investigated the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying fear conditioning and its non-conscious and conscious generalization using a backward masking paradigm, combined with analysis of event-related potentials from electroencephalographic recordings. Behaviorally, participants showed heightened shock expectancy in response to non-conscious perceived generalization stimuli compared to those perceived consciously. However, participants were inability to consciously distinguish between danger and safe cues in non-conscious trials. Physiologically, danger cues evoked larger frontal N1 amplitudes than safety cues in non-conscious trials, suggesting enhanced attention vigilance towards danger cues in the early sensory processing stage. Conversely, when fear generalization was conscious, it was accompanied by a larger P2 amplitude, indicating attention orientation or stimulus evaluation. In contrast, fear conditioning was associated with sustained discrimination on P2, P3, and LPP. These findings collectively suggest that non-conscious fear generalization occurs at the neural level, yet additional control conditions are required to confirm this phenomenon on the US expectancy. Thus, non-consciously fear generalization may represent a mechanism that could trigger automatic irrational fear, highlighting the need for further research to explore therapeutic targets in anxiety disorders.

Keywords: fear (emotions); anxiety disorders; anxiety; cognitive development

Free keywords: backward masking; fear conditioning; generalization; conscious; non-conscious

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 3