New psychology research finds Pavlovian threat conditioning can induce long-lasting memory intrusions

Pavlovian threat conditioning (also known as fear conditioning) is a basic form of learning in which an animal or person comes to associate a particular stimulus with a negative outcome. New research, published in Behaviour Research and Therapy, indicates that this type of conditioning can generate intrusive memories that persist over time. The findings provide insight into the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and could have important implications for both research on learning and clinical treatment. “I am very interested in investigating if the way we interact with each ot...