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重要模式。在差异条件反射范式中，中性刺激（CS+）与突出刺激（UCS）重复配对，而第二个中性刺激预测不存在UCS。在几次试验之后，CS+与CS-激发条件反应（例如增加的皮肤电导反应）进行比较。虽然恐惧条件反射已经被研究得很好，但食欲条件反射的研究大多被忽视了。应急意识（即，的CS/UCS协会的明确的知识）进行了讨论有争议的条件反射过程的背景下。目前的模型（双过程模型）假设不同的恐惧系统是分离的：有人假设，某些条件反应（如杏仁核活动或惊吓幅度）不需要偶然性意识，而它似乎对其他条件反应（如主观评级）至关重要。这些研究结果进行了讨论的背景下，自动和内隐学习过程和模型，以及在临床上。由于食欲条件反射过程可能是成瘾发展和维持的重要机制，因此关于条件反射调制和偶然性意识影响的问题可能具有临床意义。然而，在食欲条件反射过程中的偶然性意识的影响还没有被调查。本DFG项目的目的是调查在不同的食欲条件反射范式的条件反应的偶然性意识的影响。因此，三个不同群体的条件反应应该进行比较。根据参与者是否形成了偶然性意识，将参与者分类（使用既定问卷）为（1）偶然性无意识或（2）在差异性食欲条件反射范式期间偶然性意识。此外，第三组（（3）认知障碍）将在实验前被明确告知CS/UCS关系。这个组将知道关系，并且因此将不必像第二组那样学习CS/UCS关联（偶发事件感知）。所提交的项目将提供宝贵的缺失信息的调查的影响，应急意识的学习过程的一方和食欲条件反射的另一方。

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.