Meta-research in the field of Fear Conditioning, Extinction and Return of fear

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Tina Barbara Lonsdorf
• Subject Area: Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 451328127

Research in the psychology and in neuroscience is at present facing a debate on research practices and how to improve replicability which has emerged from what is sometimes referred to as a ‘replication crisis’. This has created the nascent research field: meta-research which aims to (constructively) evaluate research methods. This proposal addresses two urgent meta-research questions in the field of fear conditioning research from a constructive, and empirical perspective. The questions originate in part from discussions in the context of a DFG funded Scientific Network.First, there is substantial heterogeneity in operationalizing the key outcome variable in the field of fear conditionoing research, here illustrated by using skin conductance responses as an example. This is a challenge to replication and comparability of studies and hence hampers progress in the field. This propsal aims to provide independent comparative, empirical research and get the field together for discussions on operationalization of the key outcome variables and a constructive discussion of the pro’s and con’s of different operationalizational features and decisions. To this end, multiverse and specification curve analyses will be employed. As a secondary aim, this comparative work also targets questions specific to individual difference research questions in fear conditioning. Third, it has been suggested to routinely ‘correct’ for performance during fear acquisition training when studying performance at a later experimental phase (recall or return of fear test). Yet, this suggestion rests on the assumption that fear acquisition performance predicts subsequent test performance - which does neither match prevailing theories nor empirical findings. Thus, I am to investigate whether rank-position stability (within one outcome measure) or its absence over experimental phases may serve as an informative read-out that has not yet been considered in fear conditioning research. I suggest that it may capture the temporal dynamics and may possibly serve as a yet missing read-out for consolidation efficacy.The overarching aim of the proposed project is to establish and consolidate meta-scientific research in the field of fear conditioning research to enhance replicability and ultimately clinical translation of findings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Belgium
• Cooperation Partner: Angelos Miltiadis Krypotos, Ph.D.