Observational threat learning influences costly avoidance behaviour in healthy humans

TY - JOUR

T1 - Observational threat learning influences costly avoidance behaviour in healthy humans

AU - Mueller, Madeleine

AU - Cohen, Oded

AU - Shechner, Tomer

AU - Haaker, Jan

N1 - © 2024. The Author(s).

PY - 2024/7/28

Y1 - 2024/7/28

N2 - Avoidance is an essential behaviour for ensuring safety in uncertain and dangerous environments. One way to learn what is dangerous and must be avoided is through observational threat learning. This online study explored the behavioural implications of observed threat learning, examining how participants avoided or approached a learned threat and how this affected their movement patterns. Participants (n = 89) completed an observational threat learning task, rating their fear, discomfort, and physical arousal in response to conditioned stimuli. The retrieval of learned threat was reassessed 24 h later, followed by a reminder of the observed threat associations. Participants subsequently completed a computerised avoidance task, in which they navigated from a starting point to an endpoint by selecting one of two doors, each associated with either safety or danger, relying on observed information. Opting for the safe door entailed increased effort to attain the goal. Results demonstrated that observational threat learning influenced avoidance behaviour and decision-making dependent on baseline effort level. Participants tended to exhibit thigmotaxis, staying close to walls and taking extra steps to reach their goal. This behaviour indirectly mediated the number of steps taken. This study provides valuable insights into avoidance behaviour following observational threat learning in healthy humans.

AB - Avoidance is an essential behaviour for ensuring safety in uncertain and dangerous environments. One way to learn what is dangerous and must be avoided is through observational threat learning. This online study explored the behavioural implications of observed threat learning, examining how participants avoided or approached a learned threat and how this affected their movement patterns. Participants (n = 89) completed an observational threat learning task, rating their fear, discomfort, and physical arousal in response to conditioned stimuli. The retrieval of learned threat was reassessed 24 h later, followed by a reminder of the observed threat associations. Participants subsequently completed a computerised avoidance task, in which they navigated from a starting point to an endpoint by selecting one of two doors, each associated with either safety or danger, relying on observed information. Opting for the safe door entailed increased effort to attain the goal. Results demonstrated that observational threat learning influenced avoidance behaviour and decision-making dependent on baseline effort level. Participants tended to exhibit thigmotaxis, staying close to walls and taking extra steps to reach their goal. This behaviour indirectly mediated the number of steps taken. This study provides valuable insights into avoidance behaviour following observational threat learning in healthy humans.

KW - Humans

KW - Avoidance Learning/physiology

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Adult

KW - Fear

KW - Young Adult

KW - Decision Making/physiology

KW - Adolescent

KW - Learning/physiology

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-65602-3

DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-65602-3

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 39069563

VL - 14

SP - 17346

JO - SCI REP-UK

JF - SCI REP-UK

SN - 2045-2322

IS - 1

ER -