Classical conditioning is possible only when conditioned stimulus is somehow predictive of unconditioned stimulus. In experimental paradigms (e.g., cued fear conditioning) this predictiveness is usually achieved through introducing high temporal contingency between occurrence of the two stimuli (sound and shock). This relationship is much less clear in case of observational fear conditioning paradigms, in which the animal observes a conspecific receiving foot-shocks paired with sounds. It is now well described that in rats such procedure typically results in learning. When tested afterwards, the ‘observers’ display freezing behavior in response to the conditioned stimulus (similarly as the ‘demonstrators’ subjected to the foot-shocks). However, it is still not understood what is the unconditioned stimulus for the observers and how well-defined it is in time. One extreme possibility is that the observers perceive the exact moment of foot-shock as aversive (probably through sounds or movements generated by the demonstrators). In this case they would have access to the same temporal contingencies as demonstrators. Another option is that the social signals which enable learning are poorly defined in time (e.g., mainly olfactory). To verify which of the hypotheses is true, we manipulated temporal contingences between shock and sound during observational fear learning. We also tested the synchrony between the animals to check how precise in time are reactions of the observers. Our results indicate that observers are able to detect some temporal contingencies perceived by demonstrators. However, the socially derived information about timing seems to be less precisely defined than direct experience.

Presented during FENS 2020 Virtual Forum