The influence of contingency awareness on appetitive conditioning processes

条件反射过程被认为是精神疾病发展和维持的一个重要模型。在差异条件作用范式中，一个中性刺激（CS+）与一个显著刺激（UCS）反复配对，而第二个中性刺激预示着UCS的缺失。经过几次试验，与CS-相比，CS+引起条件反应（例如增加皮肤电导反应）。虽然恐惧条件反射已经被研究得很好，但对食欲条件反射的研究大多被忽视了。在条件作用过程的背景下，偶然性意识（即CS/ ucs关联的显性知识）的讨论存在争议。目前的模型（双过程模型）假设了不同恐惧系统的分离：假设偶然性意识对某些条件反应（如杏仁核活动或惊吓振幅）是不需要的，而对其他条件反应（如主观评价）似乎是至关重要的。这些发现在自动和内隐学习过程和模型的背景下以及在临床背景下进行了讨论。由于食欲条件反射过程可能是成瘾形成和维持的重要机制，因此关于条件反应的调节和偶然性意识的影响的问题可能具有临床意义。然而，偶然性意识在食欲条件反射过程中的影响尚未得到研究。本dfg项目的目的是研究在不同的食欲条件反射范式中，偶然性意识对条件反应的影响。因此，应该比较三个不同群体的条件反应。根据参与者是否产生了偶然性意识，在不同的食欲条件作用范式中，参与者将被分为(1)偶然性无意识或(2)偶然性意识。此外，第三组（(3)指示-意识）将在实验前明确告知CS/UCS关系。这一组将知道它们之间的关系，因此不需要像第二组那样学习CS/UCS关联（突发事件意识）。提交的项目将为调查偶然性意识对学习过程的影响和对食欲条件作用的影响提供有价值的缺失信息。

Conditioning processes are assumed to be an important model for the development and maintenance of psychiatric disorders. In a differential conditioning paradigm, a neutral stimulus (CS+) is repeatedly paired with a salient stimulus (UCS), while a second neutral stimulus predicts the absence of the UCS. After a few trials, the CS+ compared to the CS- elicits conditioned responses (e.g. increased skin conductance responses). While fear conditioning has been investigated very well, the investigation of appetitive conditioning has mostly been neglected. Contingency awareness (i.e., the explicit knowledge of the CS/UCS-association) is discussed controversially in the context of conditioning processes. Current models (two-process models) assume a dissociation of different fear systems: It has been hypothesized that contingency awareness is not required for certain conditioned responses like amygdala activity or startle-amplitude, while it seems crucial for other conditioned responses (e.g. subjective ratings). These findings are discussed in the context of automatic and implicit learning processes and models as well as in a clinical context. Since appetitive conditioning processes might be important mechanisms for the development and maintenance of addiction, the question about the modulation of conditioned responses und the influence of contingency awareness might be of clinical relevance. However, the influence of contingency awareness in appetitive conditioning processes has not been investigated yet. The aim of the present DFG-project is to investigate the influence of contingency awareness on conditioned responses in a differential appetitive conditioning paradigm. Thereby, the conditioned responses of three different groups ought to be compared. Participants will be classified (with established questionnaires) as (1) contingency-unaware or as (2) contingency-aware during a differential appetitive conditioning paradigm depending on whether they developed contingency awareness or not. In addition, a third group ((3) instructed-awareness) will be explicitly informed about the CS/UCS relationship before the experiment. This group will know the relationship and will thus not have to learn the CS/UCS association like the second group (contingency-aware). The submitted project will provide valuable missing information to the investigation of the influence of contingency awareness on learning processes on the one side and appetitive conditioning on the other side.