The Relationship Between Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment and Skin Conductance Levels and Responses During Fear Acquisition
Akpolat, Nur
2023
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Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a major risk factor for the development of psychopathology and is estimated to affect up to 50% of the population. However, how CM exposure contributes to the development of psychopathology is currently unknown. Previous literature suggests that alterations in fear acquisition and dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) may be mechanisms by which CM ... read moreincreases risk for psychopathology. This study aims to examine potential differences in skin conductance levels and responses (SCLs and SCRs) during the fear acquisition stage of a category threat conditioning paradigm between CM exposed and non-CM (NCM) exposed groups. Healthy participants (n = 194) between the ages 18-50 were recruited as part of a 3-day fear conditioning study conducted at New York University. Participants underwent category threat acquisition in which one category of stimuli (e.g., birds) was associated with shock and one category of stimuli (e.g., fish) was not. CM exposure was self-reported using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Participants (n = 136) who had completed the CTQ and had valid skin conductance data were identified. We found no significant differences between the CM and NCM groups with respect to SCLs or SCRs to the conditioned or unconditioned stimuli during fear acquisition. Additional longitudinal research investigating the effects of protective and risk factors in relation to fear acquisition and psychopathology is necessary.
Thesis (B.S.)--Tufts University, 2023.
Submitted to the Dept. of Psychology.read less - ID:
- bk128r544
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