Sources of relapse after extinction in Pavlovian and instrumental learning

Abstract

Reviews animal learning research which suggests that extinction does not erase the original learning, but rather makes behavior sensitive to background or context. Context-dependence of responding is evident after extinction in both Pavlovian and instrumental (operant) learning. In either case, memories of conditioning and extinction are both retained through extinction, and are available for retrieval by appropriate cues. When context promotes retrieval of extinction, extinction performance is observed. When context is changed, or when the current context promotes retrieval of conditioning, conditioning performance is often restored. Results have implications for relapse, and its prevention, following therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)

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