Neural correlates of appetitive extinction processes

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In the context of clinical psychology, conditioning and extinction processes and their long-term stability serve as important models for the treatment of addiction and fear disorders. Whereas fear extinction has been already investigated in considerable detail and findings have influenced treatment, relatively few studies have investigated appetitive extinction. In this context, the recall of extinction is assumed to be important, because different studies could demonstrate that the treatment outcome decreases over time and relapses increase. The aim of the present research project is to investigate the neural correlates of appetitive extinction and the long-term recall.It is planned to conduct a longitudinal study to investigate appetitive extinction processes over a period of six months. An appetitive conditioning paradigm will be conducted on the first day, in which a neutral stimulus (CS+) is repeatedly paired with a positive stimulus (money), while a second neutral stimulus predicts the absence of the reward. On day two, an extinction paradigm will be conducted, in which both stimuli (CS+ and CS-) will be presented without reinforcement. The extinction recall will be conducted on the third day and after six months, in which both stimuli will again be presented without reinforcement. Skin conductance responses, subjective ratings, and BOLD-activity will be measured simultaneously on each day. In addition, the dopaminergic Taq1a polymorphism (DRD2) will be analyzed exploratively, due to its relationship with learning and reward processes as well as its association with addiction disorders and relapses. The submitted project will provide valuable missing information concerning appetitive extinction processes and their long-term stability. In addition, the project allows the identification of specific factors that are associated with long-term extinction success. It may further a more in-depth understanding of extinction processes with appetitive conditioned stimuli. In addition, clinical models for treatment and relapse prevention in addiction disorders can be developed. Potential findings could thus contribute to the theoretical and the practical knowledge on relapses by investigating the stability of extinction processes and the identification of potential influencing factors.