Published: May 22, 2024

Safety learning involves associating stimuli with the absence of threats, enabling inhibition fear and anxiety. Despite growing interest in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, safety lacks a formal consensus definition, leading to inconsistent methodologies varied results. Conceptualized as form inhibitory (conditioned inhibition), can be understood through theories, such Rescorla-Wagner Pearce-Hall models. This review aims establish principled conceptualization ‘Pavlovian learning’, identifying cognitive mechanisms that generate boundary conditions constrain it. Based on these observations, we define Pavlovian an active associative process, where surprising threat-omission (safety prediction error) acts salient reinforcing event. Instead producing merely neutral or non-aversive states, endows positive associations ‘safety’. The resulting stimulus-safety memories counteract influence memories, promoting regulation, affect, relief. We critically analyze traditional criteria conditioned for their relevance propose areas future innovation. A concept may reduce methodological inconsistencies, stimulate translational research, facilitate comprehensive understanding indispensable psychological construct.

Language: Английский