Starting fear is a stronger predictor of long-term fear than rate of change in fear in human fear conditioning

In rodent studies, faster extinction rate has been shown to predict less long-term fear. However, this scarcely studied in humans. The present report investigated the association between and fear We secondarily evaluated specificity of by including other conditioning values as predictors, acquisition intercept, rate, intercept. Lastly, we whether trait measures behavioral approach, inhibition, anxiety, depression predicted Results show that slower when tested alone model. variables, no longer Instead, greater at beginning was most robust predictor (all three fear), followed (unconditional stimulus expectancy only). These effects occurred for both danger signal (i.e., conditional stimulus; CS+) safety CS?). results suggest start and, secondarily, are predictors there were or depression. This relevance improving our understanding treatment anxiety disorders.