Learning bias predicts fear acquisition under stress but not cognitive flexibility

Individuals differ in their ability to learn from reinforcement and in avoiding punishment, which can be measured by the Probabilistic Selection Task (PST). Recently, some studies have demonstrated that this learning bias is regulated by the dopaminergic system, and that stress can differentially affect the use of positive (i.e., reinforcement) and negative (i.e., avoiding punishment) feedback. The current two studies examined whether performance on the PST can predict measures of goal-directed behaviour as assessed by a cognitive flexibility task (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) and the acquisition of fear responses, when individuals are exposed to a stressor (Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test). A total of 26 and 59 healthy participants completed Experiments I and II, respectively. In those who were best at learning from reinforcement, stress increased the processing (i.e., higher skin conductance responses) of non-threatening stimuli during fear acquisition compared to the nonstressful condition, which was not recapitulated in those who were best at avoiding punishment. Additionally, PST performance did not interact with stress to modulate cognitive flexibility, although stress negatively impaired this domain, consistent with previous findings. Furthermore, independent of stress, both positive and negative learning biases were correlated with cognitive flexibility errors. Our results demonstrate that the PST has predictive value for better understanding the determinants of reinforcement and avoidance learning.

Automated summary

There are individual differences in learning from reinforcement and avoiding punishment. Stress can affect the use of positive and negative feedback in individuals. This study used the Probabilistic Selection Task (PST) to predict goal-directed behavior and fear response acquisition under stress. Results showed that stress increased the processing of non-threatening stimuli during fear acquisition in individuals best at learning from reinforcement. PST performance did not modulate cognitive flexibility, but both positive and negative learning biases were correlated with cognitive flexibility errors.