Pavlovian Learning Processes in Pediatric Anxiety Disorders: A Critical Review

Abstract Deficits in associative and Pavlovian learning are thought to lie at the center of anxiety related disorders. However, the majority of studies have been carried out in adult populations. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the behavioral and neuroimaging literature on Pavlovian learning in pediatric anxiety disorders. We conclude that, although there is evidence for deficits in Pavlovian processes (e.g., heightened reactivity to safety cues in anxious samples), the extant literature suffers from key methodological and theoretical issues. We conclude with theoretical and methodological recommendations for future research in order to further elucidate the role of Pavlovian learning in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders.