Shock sensitization of startle in rats: The role of contextual conditioning.

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Abstract
The role of contextual conditioning in the shock sensitization of startle effect was examined in 2 experiments with rats. Experiment 1 showed that shock sensitized the startle response only if it was given in the test context, and Experiment 2 showed that the sensitization effect was abolished in subjects preexposed to the test context. Taken together, these results show that shock sensitization of startle is mediated by contextual conditioning. The implications of this finding for using the shock sensitization of startle procedure as a model preparation for examining the neural and pharmacological bases of unconditioned fear are discussed.

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