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Early Auditory Event Related Potentials Distinguish Higher-Order From First-Order Aversive Conditioning
- Source :
- Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol 16 (2022)
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.
-
Abstract
- Stimuli in reality rarely co-occur with primary reward or punishment to allow direct associative learning of value. Instead, value is thought to be inferred through complex higher-order associations. Rodent research has demonstrated that the formation and maintenance of first-order and higher-order associations are supported by distinct neural substrates. In this study, we explored whether this pattern of findings held true for humans. Participants underwent first-order and subsequent higher-order conditioning using an aversive burst of white noise or neutral tone as the unconditioned stimuli. Four distinct tones, initially neutral, served as first-order and higher-order conditioned stimuli. Autonomic and neural responses were indexed by pupillometry and evoked response potentials (ERPs) respectively. Conditioned aversive values of first-order and higher-order stimuli led to increased autonomic responses, as indexed by pupil dilation. Distinct temporo-spatial auditory evoked response potentials were elicited by first-order and high-order conditioned stimuli. Conditioned first-order responses peaked around 260 ms and source estimation suggested a primary medial prefrontal and amygdala source. Conversely, conditioned higher-order responses peaked around 120 ms with an estimated source in the medial temporal lobe. Interestingly, pupillometry responses to first-order conditioned stimuli were diminished after higher order training, possibly signifying concomitant incidental extinction, while responses to higher-order stimuli remained. This suggests that once formed, higher order associations are at least partially independent of first order conditioned representations. This experiment demonstrates that first-order and higher-order conditioned associations have distinct neural signatures, and like rodents, the medial temporal lobe may be specifically involved with higher-order conditioning.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16625153
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.36bee62af7ab4e3581b00d1488d7e711
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.751274