Perceptual or conceptual based? The competition between different forms of fear generalization

Maladaptive fear generalization, the inappropriate fear response to broad neutral cues resembling actual threat cues, is a key mechanism underlying anxiety disorders. To date, most studies in this area have focused on discovering deviant forms of generalization based on either perceptual or conceptual similarity. But how perceptual and conceptual similarities interact to produce generalization is underexplored. We believe understanding this interaction is clinical valuable as it contributes to the treatment of anxiety-related disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this research proposal, we first develop our central hypothesis that perceptual and conceptual memories of a fearful experience compete to gain control over generalization. Then, in work package 1, we employ a novel experimental design to simultaneously assess perceptual and conceptual generalization, and investigate how spatiotemporal contexts influence their competition. In work package 2, we will assess perceptual and conceptual generalization in PTSD patients, and test whether their competition is modulated differently from non-anxious controls. Finally, in work package 3, we will employ a perceptual memory-based intervention to further validate our working theory and provide new insights for fear memory treatment. This research project aims to elucidate what factors control perceptual versus conceptual generalization of fear, and further use this knowledge to develop new clinical applications.