Stress, Sex, and the Generalization of Fear

Summary

The impact of well-known risk factors for such disorders (stress, biological sex, anxiety-related dispositions) on fear generalization will be examined. Findings from this study may provide insight into how these risk factors influence the development and/or maintenance of psychological disorders that involve overgeneralization of fear and could facilitate future approaches to their treatment.

Conditions

• Psychological Stress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Stress immediately before learning in males

Male participants will be exposed to the socially evaluated cold pressor test immediately prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of ice cold water for up to 3 minutes. The participants will also be informed that they are being videotaped for analysis of facial expressions and be asked to stare at a camera throughout the manipulation. Immediately following the acute stressor, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Sham control immediately before learning in males

Male participants will be exposed to the sham control condition (no stress) immediately prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of lukewarm water for up to 3 minutes. Immediately following the sham control condition, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Stress 30 minutes before learning in males

Male participants will be exposed to the socially evaluated cold pressor test 30 minutes prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of ice cold water for up to 3 minutes. The participants will also be informed that they are being videotaped for analysis of facial expressions and be asked to stare at a camera throughout the manipulation. Thirty minutes following the acute stressor, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Sham control 30 minutes before learning in males

Male participants will be exposed to the sham control condition (no stress) 30 minutes prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of lukewarm water for up to 3 minutes. Thirty minutes following the sham control condition, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Stress immediately before learning in females

Female participants will be exposed to the socially evaluated cold pressor test immediately prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of ice cold water for up to 3 minutes. The participants will also be informed that they are being videotaped for analysis of facial expressions and be asked to stare at a camera throughout the manipulation. Immediately following the acute stressor, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Sham control immediately before learning in females

Female participants will be exposed to the sham control condition (no stress) immediately prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of lukewarm water for up to 3 minutes. Immediately following the sham control condition, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Stress 30 minutes before learning in females

Female participants will be exposed to the socially evaluated cold pressor test 30 minutes prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of ice cold water for up to 3 minutes. The participants will also be informed that they are being videotaped for analysis of facial expressions and be asked to stare at a camera throughout the manipulation. Thirty minutes following the acute stressor, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

BEHAVIORAL

Sham control 30 minutes before learning in females

Female participants will be exposed to the sham control condition (no stress) 30 minutes prior to fear learning. Participants will place their dominant hand in a bath of lukewarm water for up to 3 minutes. Thirty minutes following the sham control condition, participants will undergo the acquisition phase of fear conditioning.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Ohio Northern University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Phillip Zoladz, Ph.D. · Ohio Northern University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-01-25

Primary Completion

2022-06-30

Completion

2022-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations