Social safety learning: Shared safety abolishes the recovery of learned threat. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Yafeng; Olsson, Andreas; Golkar, Armita
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 135(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Social interaction -- Social learning -- Shared safety -- Recovery -- Threat; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103733
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: Humans, like other social animals, learn about threats and safety in the environment through social cues. Yet, the processes that contribute to the efficacy of social safety learning during threat transmission remain unknown. Here, we developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and extinction learning. In three separate social groups, we manipulated whether safety information during extinction was acquired via direct exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the presence of another individual (Direct exposure), via observation of other's safety behavior (Vicarious exposure), or via the combination of both (Shared exposure).These groups were contrasted against a fourth group receiving direct CS exposure alone (Asocial exposure). Based on skin conductance responses, we observed that all social groups outperformed asocial learning in inhibiting the recovery of threat, but only Shared exposure abolished threat recovery. These results suggest that social safety learning is optimized by a combination of direct exposure and vicariously transmitted safety signals. This work might help develop exposure therapies used to treat symptoms of threat and anxiety-related disorders to counteract maladaptive fears in humans. Highlights: We developed a novel dyadic model of associative threat and safety learning. Direct/Vicarious safety exposure alone was sufficient to inhibit threat recovery. Abolishing threat recovery required a combination of Direct and Vicarious safety exposures. Our work has clinical relevance for threat and anxiety-related disorders in humans.