| dc.description.abstract | Avoidance is an essential feature of anxiety disorders, whereby individuals reduce their fear and
anxiety by avoiding specific objects or situations. Exploration-exploitation dilemma (EED) can
be employed to explore avoidance learning. Despite many factors influencing EED, it was
unclear how unexpected outcomes influence the EED choices, such as when the previously
rewarding stimulus becomes aversive. Moreover, it was unclear how trait anxiety (TA) and
worrying influenced EED. It was important to explore whether combining these factors better
predicted avoidance in the EED, as previous research showed they were associated with
avoidance. We hypothesized that participants would explore more after the previously rewarding
stimulus becomes aversive and that increased TA and worrying levels will be associated with
more exploitation and less exploration. We explored this in an experimental study with 76
healthy participants aged 18 to 33, asking them to select one of the two squares presented on the
screen in two experimental blocks. Each square was associated with a probability of receiving an
electrical stimulation or a digital point, which changed after the first block. Participants also
filled in trait anxiety (STAI) and worrying (PSWQ) measures. Findings were assessed using the
Wilcoxon signed-rank test and multiple linear regression. Participants did not explore
significantly more in the second block, and TA and worrying did not significantly influence EED
choices. Nevertheless, participants learned to avoid the unpleasant stimulus in both blocks,
demonstrating persistent avoidance. Future research should explore the influence of age on EED
and the preference for exploration. | |
