On-line and a posteriori covariation estimates in panic-prone individuals:Effects of a high contingency of shocks following fear-irrelevant stimuli

This study replicates previous findings of a covariation bias in high-fear (panic-prone) individuals. High-fear but not low-fear participants markedly overestimated the contingency between fear-relevant stimuli (FR, emergency situations) and an aversive outcome (electric shock) as long as contingenc ies were objectively random. However the experience of a high contingency o f shocks following fear-irrelevant (FI) stimuli (83%) together with a low c ontingency of shocks following FR stimuli (17%) abolished the group differe nce. Return of contingencies to random led to comparable bias-free covariat ion estimates in both high- and low-fear participants. In a previous study by the authors a high contingency of shocks following FR stimuli induced a covariation bins, even in low-fear participants. The present findings sugge st that the experience of high contingency between FI stimuli and shock is less likely to induce a covariation bias than the same high contingency bet ween FR stimuli and shock.