Does an unconditioned stimulus memory devaluation procedure decrease disgust memories and conditioned disgust? Results of two laboratory studies

Gaëtan Mertens,Eva Anna Maria Van Dis,Angelos-Miltiadis Krypotos,Iris M Engelhard

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102447

Gaëtan Mertens, Eva Anna Maria Van Dis + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102447

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Abstract

Research has demonstrated that disgust can be installed through classical conditioning by pairing neutral conditioned stimuli (CSs) with disgusting unconditioned stimuli (USs). Disgust has been argued to play an important role in maintaining fear-related disorders. This maintaining role may be explained by conditioned disgust being less sensitive to extinction (i.e., experiencing the CS in the absence of the US). Promising alternatives to extinction training are procedures that focus on the devaluation of US memory representations. In the current study, we investigated whether such devaluation procedures can be successful to counter conditioned disgust. We conducted two laboratory studies (N = 120 and N = 51) in which disgust was conditioned using audio-visual USs. Memory representations of the USs were devalued by having participants recall these USs while they performed a taxing eye-movement task or executed one of several control tasks. The results showed successful conditioned disgust acquisition. However, no strong evidence was obtained that an US memory devaluation procedure modulates disgust memory and diminishes conditioned disgust as indicated by subjective, behavioral, or psychophysiological measures. We discuss the relevance of our results for methodological improvements regarding US memory devaluation procedures and disgust conditioning.

Highlights

Disgust is a core human emotion characterized by feelings of revul sion and the tendency to move away from the evoking stimulus (Rozin, Haidt, & McCauley, 2000)
The interaction between time and condition was due to an increase in unconditioned stimulus (US) memory emotionality ratings in the recall only condition, t(29) = 2.56, p = .016, BF10 = 3.07, while in all other con ditions there was a decrease of US memory emotionality ratings (EM: t (29) = -3.31, p = .002, BF10 = 14.93; Filler: t(30) = -2.32, p = .027, BF10
The results showed successful acquisition of conditioned disgust as indicated by the disgust ratings and by participants’ rated willingness to eat and tastiness ratings in the Behavior approach task (BAT)

Summary

Introduction

Disgust is a core human emotion characterized by feelings of revul sion and the tendency to move away from the evoking stimulus (Rozin, Haidt, & McCauley, 2000). Disgust is often elicited by specific cues (e.g., blood, feces, certain insects, spoiled foods; Oaten et al, 2009), but can become conditioned to initially neutral stimuli through the use of classical conditioning procedures (Borg, Bosman, Engelhard, Olatunji, & de Jong, 2016; Engelhard, Leer, Lange, & Olatunji, 2014; Olatunji, Forsyth, & Cherian, 2007; Schienle, Stark, & Vaitl, 2001) This suggests that, feelings of disgust related to an aversive experience or unconditioned stimulus (US; e.g., sexual assault), may transfer to stimuli and situations (i.e., condi tioned stimuli; CSs) that did not initially evoke feelings of disgust (e.g., being in the workspace). Such learned disgust to seemingly neutral and common objects may be disruptive for daily life

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