TY - JOUR
T1 - Anxious responses to predictable and unpredictable aversive events
AU - Grillon, Christian
AU - Baas, Johanna P.
AU - Lissek, Shmuel
AU - Smith, Kathryn
AU - Milstein, Jean
PY - 2004/10
Y1 - 2004/10
N2 - Anxiety induced by 2 types of predictable and unpredictable aversive stimuli, an unpleasant shock or a less aversive airblast to the larynx, were investigated in a between-group design. Participants anticipated predictable (signaled) or unpredictable (not signaled) aversive events, or no aversive event. Unpredictable, relative to predictable, contexts potentiated the startle reflex in the shock group but not in the airblast group. These data suggest that unpredictability can lead to a sustained level of anxiety only when the pending stimulus is sufficiently aversive. Because predictable and unpredictable danger may induce different types of aversive responses, the proposed design can serve as a useful tool for studying the neurobiology and psychopharmacology of fear and anxiety.
AB - Anxiety induced by 2 types of predictable and unpredictable aversive stimuli, an unpleasant shock or a less aversive airblast to the larynx, were investigated in a between-group design. Participants anticipated predictable (signaled) or unpredictable (not signaled) aversive events, or no aversive event. Unpredictable, relative to predictable, contexts potentiated the startle reflex in the shock group but not in the airblast group. These data suggest that unpredictability can lead to a sustained level of anxiety only when the pending stimulus is sufficiently aversive. Because predictable and unpredictable danger may induce different types of aversive responses, the proposed design can serve as a useful tool for studying the neurobiology and psychopharmacology of fear and anxiety.
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U2 - 10.1037/0735-7044.118.5.916
DO - 10.1037/0735-7044.118.5.916
M3 - Article
C2 - 15506874
AN - SCOPUS:5144234428
SN - 0735-7044
VL - 118
SP - 916
EP - 924
JO - Behavioral Neuroscience
JF - Behavioral Neuroscience
IS - 5
ER -