A Visual Generalization Gradient of Conceptual Stimuli Based on Fear Acquisition in Visual and Auditory Modalities
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| Title: | A Visual Generalization Gradient of Conceptual Stimuli Based on Fear Acquisition in Visual and Auditory Modalities |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Xin Liu, Benjamin Becker, Ya Jie Wang, Ying Mei, Haoran Dou (ORCID |
| Source: | npj Science of Learning. 2025 10. |
| Availability: | Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 9 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Fear, Conditioning, Sensory Experience, Visual Stimuli, Auditory Stimuli, Multisensory Learning, Expectation, Spectroscopy, Physiology, Emotional Response, Generalization, Anxiety Disorders |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00318-1 |
| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| Abstract: | This study investigates crossmodal fear generalization, testing whether conditioned fear spreads between different sensory modalities. Participants in the unimodal group were presented with visual stimuli--images of a sparrow (CS+) and a laptop (CS-)--while the crossmodal group received auditory stimuli--sparrow calls (CS+) and keyboard typing sounds (CS-). During the generalization phase, both groups were presented with conceptually similar visual stimuli (GSs) with varying similarity to the CS+ (e.g. high: Pigeon, moderate: Duck, low: Goat). Measures included US expectancy ratings, skin conductance responses (SCR), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results showed successful fear acquisition in both groups, with significantly higher US expectancy ratings, SCR, and mPFC HbO activity for CS+ compared to CS-. Both groups exhibited a gradient effect during the generalization phase, with GSs that were more perceptually similar to the CS+ eliciting higher US expectancy ratings. These findings support crossmodal fear generalization and offer new insights into the overgeneralization of fear in anxiety disorders. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1474274 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This study investigates crossmodal fear generalization, testing whether conditioned fear spreads between different sensory modalities. Participants in the unimodal group were presented with visual stimuli--images of a sparrow (CS+) and a laptop (CS-)--while the crossmodal group received auditory stimuli--sparrow calls (CS+) and keyboard typing sounds (CS-). During the generalization phase, both groups were presented with conceptually similar visual stimuli (GSs) with varying similarity to the CS+ (e.g. high: Pigeon, moderate: Duck, low: Goat). Measures included US expectancy ratings, skin conductance responses (SCR), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results showed successful fear acquisition in both groups, with significantly higher US expectancy ratings, SCR, and mPFC HbO activity for CS+ compared to CS-. Both groups exhibited a gradient effect during the generalization phase, with GSs that were more perceptually similar to the CS+ eliciting higher US expectancy ratings. These findings support crossmodal fear generalization and offer new insights into the overgeneralization of fear in anxiety disorders. |
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| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00318-1 |
