Don't fear ‘fear conditioning’: Methodological considerations for the design and analysis of studies on human fear acquisition, extinction, and return of fear

Lonsdorf TB, Menz MM, Andreatta M, Fullana MA, Golkar A, Haaker J, Heitland I, Hermann A, Kuhn M, Kruse O, Drexler SM, Meulders A, Nees F, Pittig A, Richter J, Roemer S, Shiban Y, Schmitz A, Straube B, Vervliet B, Wendt J, Baas JMP, Merz CJ (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Elsevier

Book Volume: 77

Pages Range: 247-285

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.026

Abstract

The so-called ‘replicability crisis’ has sparked methodological discussions in many areas of science in general, and in psychology in particular. This has led to recent endeavours to promote the transparency, rigour, and ultimately, replicability of research. Originating from this zeitgeist, the challenge to discuss critical issues on terminology, design, methods, and analysis considerations in fear conditioning research is taken up by this work, which involved representatives from fourteen of the major human fear conditioning laboratories in Europe. This compendium is intended to provide a basis for the development of a common procedural and terminology framework for the field of human fear conditioning. Whenever possible, we give general recommendations. When this is not feasible, we provide evidence-based guidance for methodological decisions on study design, outcome measures, and analyses. Importantly, this work is also intended to raise awareness and initiate discussions on crucial questions with respect to data collection, processing, statistical analyses, the impact of subtle procedural changes, and data reporting specifically tailored to the research on fear conditioning.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andre Pittig

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) DE Germany (DE) Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE) Hospital del Mar ES Spain (ES) Karolinska Institute SE Sweden (SE) Universiteit Utrecht (UU) / Utrecht University NL Netherlands (NL) Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen DE Germany (DE) Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) DE Germany (DE) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven BE Belgium (BE) Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) Universität Greifswald DE Germany (DE) Universität des Saarlandes (UdS) DE Germany (DE) Universität Regensburg DE Germany (DE) Philipps-Universität Marburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Lonsdorf, T.B., Menz, M.M., Andreatta, M., Fullana, M.A., Golkar, A., Haaker, J.,... Merz, C.J. (2017). Don't fear ‘fear conditioning’: Methodological considerations for the design and analysis of studies on human fear acquisition, extinction, and return of fear. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 77, 247-285. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.026

MLA:

Lonsdorf, Tina B., et al. "Don't fear ‘fear conditioning’: Methodological considerations for the design and analysis of studies on human fear acquisition, extinction, and return of fear." Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 77 (2017): 247-285.

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