Configural task used in experiments 3 and 4. (A) Study timeline. (B) Overview of the five static room images used in these experiments. (C) Summary table of the design and assignment of the room images (Stout et al. 2018, 2019). For every participant, CTX+ was always the CONA+ image, and all the other images were CTX−. Before acquisition training started, all participants were presented an overview of all images on the same screen, where the position of each image was randomized. (D) Trial-by-trial design of acquisition training and recall test. In the acquisition training, participants learned the association of rooms and US (electric shock) over 88 trials split into four balanced blocks. In each trial, CTX was presented for 7.5 sec. In 83% of CTX+ trials (i.e., five out of six CTX+ trials in each block), US was delivered at 7.0 sec after CTX onset and coterminated with CTX. During an ITI with random duration (7.5–10.5 sec), the screen was light gray. Participants were asked to press the “down” arrow key as soon as they figured out the room configuration when a CTX image was presented. In the recall test, no US occurred. In every recall trial (including CTX− trials), a startle probe was delivered at 7.0 sec after trial onset. (STAI) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
