2021 |
Undeger, I; Visser, R; Becker, N; de Boer, L; Golkar, A; Olsson, A Model-based representational similarity analysis of BOLD fMRI captures threat learning in social interactions Journal Article Royal Society Open Science, 8 (202116), 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Learning, Social interaction, Threat @article{Undeger2021, title = {Model-based representational similarity analysis of BOLD fMRI captures threat learning in social interactions}, author = {I Undeger and R Visser and N Becker and L de Boer and A Golkar and A Olsson }, url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.202116}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.202116}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-24}, journal = {Royal Society Open Science}, volume = {8}, number = {202116}, abstract = {Past research has shown that attributions of intentions to other's actions determine how we experience these actions and their consequences. Yet, it is unknown how such attributions affect our learning and memory. Addressing this question, we combined neuroimaging with an interactive threat learning paradigm in which two interaction partners (confederates) made choices that had either threatening (shock) or safe (no shock) consequences for the participants. Importantly, participants were led to believe that one partner intentionally caused the delivery of shock, whereas the other did not (i.e. unintentional partner). Following intentional versus unintentional shocks, participants reported an inflated number of shocks and a greater increase in anger and vengeance. We applied a model-based representational similarity analysis to blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI patterns during learning. Surprisingly, we did not find any effects of intentionality. The threat value of actions, however, was represented as a trial-by-trial increase in representational similarity in the insula and the inferior frontal gyrus. Our findings illustrate how neural pattern formation can be used to study a complex interaction.}, keywords = {Learning, Social interaction, Threat}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Past research has shown that attributions of intentions to other's actions determine how we experience these actions and their consequences. Yet, it is unknown how such attributions affect our learning and memory. Addressing this question, we combined neuroimaging with an interactive threat learning paradigm in which two interaction partners (confederates) made choices that had either threatening (shock) or safe (no shock) consequences for the participants. Importantly, participants were led to believe that one partner intentionally caused the delivery of shock, whereas the other did not (i.e. unintentional partner). Following intentional versus unintentional shocks, participants reported an inflated number of shocks and a greater increase in anger and vengeance. We applied a model-based representational similarity analysis to blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI patterns during learning. Surprisingly, we did not find any effects of intentionality. The threat value of actions, however, was represented as a trial-by-trial increase in representational similarity in the insula and the inferior frontal gyrus. Our findings illustrate how neural pattern formation can be used to study a complex interaction. |
2020 |
Pan, Y; Olsson, A; Golkar, A Social safety learning: Shared safety abolishes the recovery of learned threat Journal Article Behaviour Research and Therapy, 135 , pp. 103733, 2020. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Recovery, Shared safety, Social interaction, Social learning, Threat @article{Pan2020, title = {Social safety learning: Shared safety abolishes the recovery of learned threat}, author = {Y Pan and A Olsson and A Golkar}, doi = {10.1016/j.brat.2020.103733}, year = {2020}, date = {2020-12-01}, journal = {Behaviour Research and Therapy}, volume = {135}, pages = {103733}, abstract = {Humans, like other social animals, learn about threats and safety in the environment through social cues. Yet, the processes that contribute to the efficacy of social safety learning during threat transmission remain unknown. Here, we developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and extinction learning. In three separate social groups, we manipulated whether safety information during extinction was acquired via direct exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence of another individual (Direct exposure), via observation of other's safety behavior (Vicarious exposure), or via the combination of both (Shared exposure).These groups were contrasted against a fourth group receiving direct CS exposure alone (Asocial exposure). Based on skin conductance responses, we observed that all social groups outperformed asocial learning in inhibiting the recovery of threat, but only Shared exposure abolished threat recovery. These results suggest that social safety learning is optimized by a combination of direct exposure and vicariously transmitted safety signals. This work might help develop exposure therapies used to treat symptoms of threat and anxiety-related disorders to counteract maladaptive fears in humans.}, keywords = {Recovery, Shared safety, Social interaction, Social learning, Threat}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Humans, like other social animals, learn about threats and safety in the environment through social cues. Yet, the processes that contribute to the efficacy of social safety learning during threat transmission remain unknown. Here, we developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and extinction learning. In three separate social groups, we manipulated whether safety information during extinction was acquired via direct exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence of another individual (Direct exposure), via observation of other's safety behavior (Vicarious exposure), or via the combination of both (Shared exposure).These groups were contrasted against a fourth group receiving direct CS exposure alone (Asocial exposure). Based on skin conductance responses, we observed that all social groups outperformed asocial learning in inhibiting the recovery of threat, but only Shared exposure abolished threat recovery. These results suggest that social safety learning is optimized by a combination of direct exposure and vicariously transmitted safety signals. This work might help develop exposure therapies used to treat symptoms of threat and anxiety-related disorders to counteract maladaptive fears in humans. |
Under Review
2021 |
Undeger, I; Visser, R; Becker, N; de Boer, L; Golkar, A; Olsson, A Model-based representational similarity analysis of BOLD fMRI captures threat learning in social interactions Journal Article Royal Society Open Science, 8 (202116), 2021. @article{Undeger2021, title = {Model-based representational similarity analysis of BOLD fMRI captures threat learning in social interactions}, author = {I Undeger and R Visser and N Becker and L de Boer and A Golkar and A Olsson }, url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.202116}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.202116}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-11-24}, journal = {Royal Society Open Science}, volume = {8}, number = {202116}, abstract = {Past research has shown that attributions of intentions to other's actions determine how we experience these actions and their consequences. Yet, it is unknown how such attributions affect our learning and memory. Addressing this question, we combined neuroimaging with an interactive threat learning paradigm in which two interaction partners (confederates) made choices that had either threatening (shock) or safe (no shock) consequences for the participants. Importantly, participants were led to believe that one partner intentionally caused the delivery of shock, whereas the other did not (i.e. unintentional partner). Following intentional versus unintentional shocks, participants reported an inflated number of shocks and a greater increase in anger and vengeance. We applied a model-based representational similarity analysis to blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI patterns during learning. Surprisingly, we did not find any effects of intentionality. The threat value of actions, however, was represented as a trial-by-trial increase in representational similarity in the insula and the inferior frontal gyrus. Our findings illustrate how neural pattern formation can be used to study a complex interaction.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Past research has shown that attributions of intentions to other's actions determine how we experience these actions and their consequences. Yet, it is unknown how such attributions affect our learning and memory. Addressing this question, we combined neuroimaging with an interactive threat learning paradigm in which two interaction partners (confederates) made choices that had either threatening (shock) or safe (no shock) consequences for the participants. Importantly, participants were led to believe that one partner intentionally caused the delivery of shock, whereas the other did not (i.e. unintentional partner). Following intentional versus unintentional shocks, participants reported an inflated number of shocks and a greater increase in anger and vengeance. We applied a model-based representational similarity analysis to blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD)-MRI patterns during learning. Surprisingly, we did not find any effects of intentionality. The threat value of actions, however, was represented as a trial-by-trial increase in representational similarity in the insula and the inferior frontal gyrus. Our findings illustrate how neural pattern formation can be used to study a complex interaction. |
2020 |
Pan, Y; Olsson, A; Golkar, A Social safety learning: Shared safety abolishes the recovery of learned threat Journal Article Behaviour Research and Therapy, 135 , pp. 103733, 2020. @article{Pan2020, title = {Social safety learning: Shared safety abolishes the recovery of learned threat}, author = {Y Pan and A Olsson and A Golkar}, doi = {10.1016/j.brat.2020.103733}, year = {2020}, date = {2020-12-01}, journal = {Behaviour Research and Therapy}, volume = {135}, pages = {103733}, abstract = {Humans, like other social animals, learn about threats and safety in the environment through social cues. Yet, the processes that contribute to the efficacy of social safety learning during threat transmission remain unknown. Here, we developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and extinction learning. In three separate social groups, we manipulated whether safety information during extinction was acquired via direct exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence of another individual (Direct exposure), via observation of other's safety behavior (Vicarious exposure), or via the combination of both (Shared exposure).These groups were contrasted against a fourth group receiving direct CS exposure alone (Asocial exposure). Based on skin conductance responses, we observed that all social groups outperformed asocial learning in inhibiting the recovery of threat, but only Shared exposure abolished threat recovery. These results suggest that social safety learning is optimized by a combination of direct exposure and vicariously transmitted safety signals. This work might help develop exposure therapies used to treat symptoms of threat and anxiety-related disorders to counteract maladaptive fears in humans.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Humans, like other social animals, learn about threats and safety in the environment through social cues. Yet, the processes that contribute to the efficacy of social safety learning during threat transmission remain unknown. Here, we developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and extinction learning. In three separate social groups, we manipulated whether safety information during extinction was acquired via direct exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence of another individual (Direct exposure), via observation of other's safety behavior (Vicarious exposure), or via the combination of both (Shared exposure).These groups were contrasted against a fourth group receiving direct CS exposure alone (Asocial exposure). Based on skin conductance responses, we observed that all social groups outperformed asocial learning in inhibiting the recovery of threat, but only Shared exposure abolished threat recovery. These results suggest that social safety learning is optimized by a combination of direct exposure and vicariously transmitted safety signals. This work might help develop exposure therapies used to treat symptoms of threat and anxiety-related disorders to counteract maladaptive fears in humans. |