Biomaterial Database

Cognitive processes during fear acquisition and extinction in animals and humans: implications for exposure therapy of anxiety disorders. 2008

Stefan G Hofmann

Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02215-2002, United States. shofmann@bu.edu

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent. Fear conditioning and extinction learning in animals often serve as simple models of fear acquisition and exposure therapy of anxiety disorders in humans. This article reviews the empirical and theoretical literature on cognitive processes in fear acquisition, extinction, and exposure therapy. It is concluded that exposure therapy is a form of cognitive intervention that specifically changes the expectancy of harm. Implications for therapy research are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003214	Conditioning, Classical	Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.	Reflex, Conditioned,Classical Conditioning,Classical Conditionings,Conditioned Reflex,Conditionings, Classical
D003469	Culture	A collective expression for all behavior patterns acquired and socially transmitted through symbols. Culture includes customs, traditions, and language.	Cultural Relativism,Customs,Beliefs,Cultural Background,Background, Cultural,Backgrounds, Cultural,Belief,Cultural Backgrounds,Cultural Relativisms,Cultures,Relativism, Cultural,Relativisms, Cultural
D003887	Desensitization, Psychologic	A behavior therapy technique in which deep muscle relaxation is used to inhibit the effects of graded anxiety-evoking stimuli.	Desensitization (Psychology),Desensitization, Psychological,Psychologic Desensitization,Psychological Desensitization,Desensitizations (Psychology)
D005108	Extinction, Psychological	The procedure of presenting the conditioned stimulus without REINFORCEMENT to an organism previously conditioned. It refers also to the diminution of a conditioned response resulting from this procedure.	Psychological Extinction,Extinction (Psychology),Extinctions (Psychology),Extinctions, Psychological,Psychological Extinctions
D005239	Fear	The affective response to an actual current external danger which subsides with the elimination of the threatening condition.	Threat Cues,Threat Sensitivity,Cue, Threat,Fears,Sensitivity, Threat,Threat Cue,Threat Sensitivities
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000679	Amygdala	Almond-shaped group of basal nuclei anterior to the INFERIOR HORN OF THE LATERAL VENTRICLE of the TEMPORAL LOBE. The amygdala is part of the limbic system.	Amygdaloid Body,Amygdaloid Nuclear Complex,Amygdaloid Nucleus,Archistriatum,Corpus Amygdaloideum,Intercalated Amygdaloid Nuclei,Massa Intercalata,Nucleus Amygdalae,Amygdalae, Nucleus,Amygdaloid Bodies,Amygdaloid Nuclear Complices,Amygdaloid Nuclei, Intercalated,Amygdaloid Nucleus, Intercalated,Amygdaloideum, Corpus,Amygdaloideums, Corpus,Archistriatums,Complex, Amygdaloid Nuclear,Complices, Amygdaloid Nuclear,Corpus Amygdaloideums,Intercalata, Massa,Intercalatas, Massa,Intercalated Amygdaloid Nucleus,Massa Intercalatas,Nuclear Complex, Amygdaloid,Nuclear Complices, Amygdaloid,Nuclei, Intercalated Amygdaloid,Nucleus, Amygdaloid,Nucleus, Intercalated Amygdaloid
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001008	Anxiety Disorders	Persistent and disabling ANXIETY.	Anxiety Neuroses,Anxiety States, Neurotic,Neuroses, Anxiety,Anxiety Disorder,Anxiety State, Neurotic,Disorder, Anxiety,Disorders, Anxiety,Neurotic Anxiety State,Neurotic Anxiety States,State, Neurotic Anxiety,States, Neurotic Anxiety
D015928	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy	A directive form of psychotherapy based on the interpretation of situations (cognitive structure of experiences) that determine how an individual feels and behaves. It is based on the premise that cognition, the process of acquiring knowledge and forming beliefs, is a primary determinant of mood and behavior. The therapy uses behavioral and verbal techniques to identify and correct negative thinking that is at the root of the aberrant behavior.	Behavior Therapy, Cognitive,Cognitive Behaviour Therapy,Cognitive Therapy,Psychotherapy, Cognitive,Cognition Therapy,Cognitive Behavior Therapy,Cognitive Psychotherapy,Therapy, Cognition,Therapy, Cognitive,Therapy, Cognitive Behavior,Behavior Therapies, Cognitive,Behavioral Therapies, Cognitive,Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive,Behaviour Therapies, Cognitive,Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive,Cognition Therapies,Cognitive Behavior Therapies,Cognitive Behavioral Therapies,Cognitive Behaviour Therapies,Cognitive Psychotherapies,Cognitive Therapies,Psychotherapies, Cognitive,Therapies, Cognition,Therapies, Cognitive,Therapies, Cognitive Behavior,Therapies, Cognitive Behavioral,Therapies, Cognitive Behaviour,Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral,Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour