Gender difference in retrieval-extinction of conditioned fear memory

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2021.01082

Abstract

Abstract:

The retrieval-extinction paradigm based on the memory reconsolidation theory can effectively weaken the maladaptive fear memory. Gender difference is a key variable in the study of individual difference, but there are few studies on gender difference in the retrieval-extinction paradigm. In this study, stereoscopic geometry was used as the conditioned stimulus, electric shock as the unconditioned stimulus, skin conductance response as the fear response index. The results showed that all the participants in the retrieval-extinction group successfully inhibited the fear relapse in the fear spontaneous recovery test, but only the female participants inhibited the fear relapse in the reinstatement test. The results showed that the retrieval-extinction paradigm had a significant effect on inhibiting the spontaneous recovery of fear, and the fear reduction effect on reinstatement test of female was better than that of male.

CHEN Wei, LIN Xiaoyi, LI Junjiao, ZHANG Wenxi, SUN Nan, ZHENG Xifu. (2021). Gender difference in retrieval-extinction of conditioned fear memory. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 53(10), 1082-1093.

Figures/Tables 11

Figure 1. Schematic presentation of experimental stimuli.

Figure 2. Experimental design.

Figure 3. The change of SCR value in acquisition and extinction stages.
Note. Abscissa A stands for Acquisition, E stands for Extinction, and numbers stand for trials

Figure 4. The change of SCR value of each group in the phase of spontaneous recovery test.
Note. re-E stands for re-Extinction.

Figure 5. The difference of CS+ and CS- (mdSCR) between the last trial of each group in the extinction phase and the first trial in the spontaneous recovery phase.

Figure 6. The amount of fear spontaneous recovery in each group was compared. (A) CS+ contrast on fear spontaneous recovery in each group; (B) CS- contrast on fear spontaneous recovery in each group. The results showed that only female participants with traditional extinction showed significant difference in the SCR of CS+ before and after spontaneous recovery.
Note. Spontaneous recovery = spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value - extinction of the last trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001

Figure 7. The retrieval-extinction paradigm was compared with the traditional extinction paradigm in CS+ and CS-. The results showed that there were significant differences in the SCR of CS+ between the participants with the retrieval-extinction paradigm before and after spontaneous recovery.
Note. Spontaneous recovery = spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value - extinction of the last trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001

Figure 8. Variation of SCR values for each group after reinstatement.
Note. rein-E stands for reinstatement-Extinction.

Figure 9. The difference of CS+ and CS- (mdSCR) between the last trial of each group in the spontaneous recovery phase and the first trial in the reinstatement phase. The results showed that the SCR difference after reinstatement of male participants with retrieval-extinction and traditional extinction were significantly larger than that before reinstatement.

Figure 10. The amount of fear reinstatement in each group was compared. (A) CS+ contrast on the quantity of fear reinstatement in each group. (B) CS- contrast on the quantity of fear reinstatement in each group. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the SCR of CS- between the male participants before and after fear reinstatement.
Note. Fear reinstatement = reinstatement of the first trial of SCR value - spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001

Figure 11. The retrieval-extinction paradigm was compared with the traditional extinction paradigm in CS+ and CS-in terms of the amount of fear reinstatement. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the SCR of CS+ between before and after fear reinstatement.
Note. Note. Fear reinstatement = reinstatement of the first trial of SCR value - spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001

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