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Dong X, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li Y. Fear generalization modulated by shock intensity and protein synthesis inhibitor. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06662-1. [PMID: 39105767 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06662-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Maladaptive fear responses, including sensitized threat reactions and overgeneralization, contribute to anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although stress intensity influences the generation and extent of these maladaptive fears, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVES The present study examined whether varying footshock stress intensity and inhibition of protein synthesis have differential effect on fear sensitization and generalization in mice. METHODS Mice were subjected to a classic fear conditioning protocol involving five different levels of footshock intensities. Prior to fear acquisition, the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) was administered intraperitoneally. Fear sensitization to white noise and fear generalization to tones with frequencies differing from the conditioned tone were assessed at either 2 or 4 days after fear acquisition. RESULTS The results showed that, although varying shock intensities (except the lowest) led to a similar pattern of increased freezing during auditory cues in fear acquisition, the extent of both fear sensitization and generalization increased with the intensity of the footshock in the following days. As shock intensities increased, there was a proportional rise in sensitized fear to white noise and generalized freezing to tones with frequencies progressively closer to the conditioned stimulus. Mildest shocks did not induce discriminative conditioned fear memory, whereas the most intense shocks led to pronounced fear generalization. Administration of CHX before fear acquisition did not affect sensitized fear but reduced generalization of freezing to tones dissimilar from the conditioned stimulus in the group exposed to the most intense shock. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that maladaptive fear responses elicited by varying stress intensities exhibit distinct characteristics. The effect of CHX to prevent overgeneralization without affecting discriminative fear memory points to potential therapeutic approaches for fear-related disorders, suggesting the possibility of mitigating overgeneralization while preserving necessary fear discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Dong
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yunyun Wang
- Department of Neuroendocrine Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yudan Liu
- Department of Neuroendocrine Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yonghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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2
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de Nooij L, Wirz L, Heling E, Pais M, Hendriks GJ, Verkes RJ, Roozendaal B, Hermans EJ. Exogenous glucocorticoids to improve extinction learning for post-traumatic stress disorder patients with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis dysregulation: a study protocol description. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2364441. [PMID: 38973398 PMCID: PMC11232644 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2364441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Trauma-focused treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are effective for many patients. However, relapse may occur when acquired extinction memories fail to generalize beyond treatment contexts. A subgroup of PTSD patients - potentially with substantial exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) - show dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which results in lower cortisol levels. Glucocorticoids, including cortisol, appear to facilitate strength and generalization of emotional memories.Objective: We describe the protocol of an integrated PTSD study. We investigate (A) associations between HPA-axis dysregulation, ELA, epigenetic markers, and PTSD treatment outcome (observational study); and (B) effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on strength and generalization of extinction memories and associated neural mechanisms [pharmacological intervention study with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)]. The objective is to provide proof of concept that PTSD patients with HPA-axis dysregulation often experienced ELA and may show improved strength and generalization of extinction learning after glucocorticoid administration.Method: The observational study (n = 160 PTSD group, n = 30 control group) assesses ELA, follow-up PTSD symptoms, epigenetic markers, and HPA-axis characteristics (salivary cortisol levels during low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and socially evaluated cold-pressor test). The pharmacological intervention study (n = 80 PTSD group, with and without HPA-axis dysregulation) is a placebo-controlled fMRI study with a crossover design. To investigate strength and generalization of extinction memories, we use a differential fear acquisition, extinction, and extinction recall task with spatial contexts within a virtual environment. Prior to extinction learning, 20 mg hydrocortisone or placebo is administered. During next-day recall, strength of the extinction memory is determined by recovery of skin conductance and pupil dilation differential responding, whereas generalization is assessed by comparing responses between different spatial contexts.Conclusion: The integrated study described in the current protocol paper could inform a personalized treatment approach in which these PTSD patients may receive glucocorticoids as a treatment enhancer in trauma-focused therapies.Trial registration: The research project is registered in the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials (EudraCT) database, https://eudract.ema.europa.eu/, EudraCT number 2020-000712-30.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura de Nooij
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa Wirz
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Emma Heling
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mariana Pais
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert-Jan Hendriks
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- ‘Overwaal’ Center of Expertise for Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders, Institution for Integrated Mental Health Care “Pro Persona”, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert-Jan Verkes
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Kairos Forensic Care, Pompestichting, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erno J. Hermans
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Loetscher KB, Goldfarb EV. Integrating and fragmenting memories under stress and alcohol. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100615. [PMID: 38375503 PMCID: PMC10874731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress can powerfully influence the way we form memories, particularly the extent to which they are integrated or situated within an underlying spatiotemporal and broader knowledge architecture. These different representations in turn have significant consequences for the way we use these memories to guide later behavior. Puzzlingly, although stress has historically been argued to promote fragmentation, leading to disjoint memory representations, more recent work suggests that stress can also facilitate memory binding and integration. Understanding the circumstances under which stress fosters integration will be key to resolving this discrepancy and unpacking the mechanisms by which stress can shape later behavior. Here, we examine memory integration at multiple levels: linking together the content of an individual experience, threading associations between related but distinct events, and binding an experience into a pre-existing schema or sense of causal structure. We discuss neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying each form of integration as well as findings regarding how stress, aversive learning, and negative affect can modulate each. In this analysis, we uncover that stress can indeed promote each level of integration. We also show how memory integration may apply to understanding effects of alcohol, highlighting extant clinical and preclinical findings and opportunities for further investigation. Finally, we consider the implications of integration and fragmentation for later memory-guided behavior, and the importance of understanding which type of memory representation is potentiated in order to design appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth V. Goldfarb
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, USA
- National Center for PTSD, West Haven VA, USA
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4
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Jeanneteau F. Fast signaling by glucocorticoids shapes neural representations of behaviors. Steroids 2023; 199:109294. [PMID: 37549777 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2023.109294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are stress hormones that play central roles in the immediate and slower adaptive responses of the brain and body to new behavioral experience. The exact mechanisms by which the rapid and slow processes underlying glucocorticoid mnemonic effects unfold are under intensive scrutiny. It is possible that glucocorticoids rapidly modify memory representations in the brain by interfering with synaptic functions between inhibitory and excitatory neurons in a timing and context dependent manner. In particular, activity-dependent trans-synaptic messengers appear to have all the necessary attributes to engage in the rapid signaling by glucocorticoids and regulate the brain and behaviors. Novel frameworks for the treatment of stress-related disorders could emerge from a better characterization of the dynamic interplay between the rapid and slow signaling components by glucocorticoids on large-scale brain networks. Here I present some of the exact factors that could help reach this objective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddy Jeanneteau
- Institut de génomique fonctionnelle , Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34090, Montpellier, France.
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5
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Ramos-Leví AM, Cañada E, Matias-Guiu JA. Cognitive dysfunction in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency: A systematic review. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2023; 30:802-813. [PMID: 35767730 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2090256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Addison's disease (AD) entails a chronic insufficient production of gluco- and mineralocorticoids. Fatigue and decreased quality of life are frequently reported symptoms, but little is known about its effects on cognition. This study aims to explore the existence of cognitive impairment in patients with AD and the influence of treatment regimens. We conducted a systematic review. Inclusion criteria were met by 10 articles, most of them ranked as intermediate quality. Three studies analyzed the relationship between AD and cognitive impairment; one explored the effect of delaying treatment showing no effect on cognitive performance, and another one studied the effect of fludrocortisone treatment. Episodic memory was the most frequent cognitive domain impaired across studies, in comparison to healthy controls. Two papers investigated the relationship between impaired sleep quality and poor cognitive performance. Two studies related cognitive impairments with hypocortisolism-derived brain neuroglycopenia. Two studies investigated the effect of DHEA substitution. In conclusion, patients exhibit a moderately reduced performance in verbal learning. The pathophysiology of this impairment is likely multifactorial. Future studies should include larger sample sizes, the use of comprehensive and multi-domain neuropsychological and behavioral protocols, and neuroimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Ramos-Leví
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Princesa, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emma Cañada
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Princesa, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi A Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación San Carlos, IdISSC, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Song Q, Tan Y. Knowledge mapping of the relationship between norepinephrine and memory: a bibliometric analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1242643. [PMID: 37955010 PMCID: PMC10634421 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1242643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Memory is a fundamental cognitive function for successful interactions with a complex environment. Norepinephrine (NE) is an essential component of catecholamine induced by emotional arousal, and numerous studies have demonstrated that NE is a key regulator in memory enhancement. We therefore conducted a bibliometric analysis to represent the knowledge pattern of the literature on the theme of NE-memory relationship. Methods The WOSCC database was selected to extract literature published during 2003-2022. The collected data of annual production, global cooperation, research structure and hotspots were analyzed and visualized. Results Our results showed that research on the links between NE and memory displayed a considerable development trend over the last two decades. The USA had a leading position in terms of scientific outputs and collaborations. Meanwhile, University of California Irvine contributed the most publications. Benno Roozendaal and James McGaugh were the most prolific authors in this field, and Neurobiology of Learning and Memory had the highest number of publications on this topic. The research emphasis has evolved from memory-related diseases and brain regions to neural mechanisms for different types of memory at neural circuit levels. Conclusion Our bibliometric analysis systematically analyzed the literature on the links between NE and memory from a bibliometric perspective. The demonstrated results of the knowledge mapping would provide valuable insights into the global research landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaqian Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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7
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Ko B, Yoo JY, Yoo T, Choi W, Dogan R, Sung K, Um D, Lee SB, Kim HJ, Lee S, Beak ST, Park SK, Paik SB, Kim TK, Kim JH. Npas4-mediated dopaminergic regulation of safety memory consolidation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112678. [PMID: 37379214 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Amygdala circuitry encodes associations between conditioned stimuli and aversive unconditioned stimuli and also controls fear expression. However, whether and how non-threatening information for unpaired conditioned stimuli (CS-) is discretely processed remains unknown. The fear expression toward CS- is robust immediately after fear conditioning but then becomes negligible after memory consolidation. The synaptic plasticity of the neural pathway from the lateral to the anterior basal amygdala gates the fear expression of CS-, depending upon neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (Npas4)-mediated dopamine receptor D4 (Drd4) synthesis, which is precluded by stress exposure or corticosterone injection. Herein, we show cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the non-threatening (safety) memory consolidation, supporting the fear discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- BumJin Ko
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Yeon Yoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Taesik Yoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Woochul Choi
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Rumeysa Dogan
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kibong Sung
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Dahun Um
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Been Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jin Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjun Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Tae Beak
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Ki Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Bum Paik
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Kyung Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Joung-Hun Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
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8
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On making (and turning adaptive to) maladaptive aversive memories in laboratory rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 147:105101. [PMID: 36804263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning and avoidance tasks usually elicit adaptive aversive memories. Traumatic memories are more intense, generalized, inflexible, and resistant to attenuation via extinction- and reconsolidation-based strategies. Inducing and assessing these dysfunctional, maladaptive features in the laboratory are crucial to interrogating posttraumatic stress disorder's neurobiology and exploring innovative treatments. Here we analyze over 350 studies addressing this question in adult rats and mice. There is a growing interest in modeling several qualitative and quantitative memory changes by exposing already stressed animals to freezing- and avoidance-related tests or using a relatively high aversive training magnitude. Other options combine aversive/fearful tasks with post-acquisition or post-retrieval administration of one or more drugs provoking neurochemical or epigenetic alterations reported in the trauma aftermath. It is potentially instructive to integrate these procedures and incorporate the measurement of autonomic and endocrine parameters. Factors to consider when defining the organismic and procedural variables, partially neglected aspects (sex-dependent differences and recent vs. remote data comparison) and suggestions for future research (identifying reliable individual risk and treatment-response predictors) are discussed.
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9
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Ford JH, Kim SY, Kark SM, Daley RT, Payne JD, Kensinger EA. Distinct stress-related changes in intrinsic amygdala connectivity predict subsequent positive and negative memory performance. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4744-4765. [PMID: 35841177 PMCID: PMC9710194 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Experiencing stress before an event can influence how that event is later remembered. In the current study, we examine how individual differences in one's physiological response to a stressor are related to changes to underlying brain states and memory performance. Specifically, we examined how changes in intrinsic amygdala connectivity relate to positive and negative memory performance as a function of stress response, defined as a change in cortisol. Twenty-five participants underwent a social stressor before an incidental emotional memory encoding task. Cortisol samples were obtained before and after the stressor to measure individual differences in stress response. Three resting state scans (pre-stressor, post-stressor/pre-encoding and post-encoding) were conducted to evaluate pre- to post-stressor and pre- to post-encoding changes to intrinsic amygdala connectivity. Analyses examined relations between greater cortisol changes and connectivity changes. Greater cortisol increases were associated with a greater decrease in prefrontal-amygdala connectivity following the stressor and a reversal in the relation between prefrontal-amygdala connectivity and negative vs. positive memory performance. Greater cortisol increases were also associated with a greater increase in amygdala connectivity with a number of posterior sensory regions following encoding. Consistent with prior findings in non-stressed individuals, pre- to post-encoding increases in amygdala-posterior connectivity were associated with greater negative relative to positive memory performance, although this was specific to lateral rather than medial posterior regions and to participants with the greatest cortisol changes. These findings suggest that stress response is associated with changes in intrinsic connectivity that have downstream effects on the valence of remembered emotional content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn H Ford
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sara Y Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Sarah M Kark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Ryan T Daley
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica D Payne
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Kensinger
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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Jeanneteau F, Coutellier L. The glucocorticoid footprint on the memory engram. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2022; 25:100378. [PMID: 38486965 PMCID: PMC10938917 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The complexity of the classical inverted U-shaped relationship between cortisol levels and responses transposable to stress reactivity has led to an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms enabling healthy and toxic effects of stress on brain and behavior. A clearer, more detailed, picture of those relationships can be obtained by integrating cortisol effects on large-scale brain networks, in particular, by focusing on neural network configurations from the perspective of inhibition and excitation. A unifying view of Semon and Hebb's theories of cellular memory links the biophysical and metabolic changes in neuronal ensembles to the strengthening of collective synapses. In that sense, the neuronal capacity to record, store, and retrieve information directly relates to the adaptive capacity of its connectivity and metabolic reserves. Here, we use task-activated cell ensembles or simply engram cells as an example to demonstrate that the adaptive behavioral responses to stress result from collective synapse strength within and across networks of interneurons and excitatory ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddy Jeanneteau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurence Coutellier
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
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11
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Pharmacological Implications of Adjusting Abnormal Fear Memory: Towards the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070788. [PMID: 35890087 PMCID: PMC9322538 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a unique clinical mental abnormality presenting a cluster of symptoms in which patients primarily experience flashbacks, nightmares and uncontrollable thoughts about the event that triggered their PTSD. Patients with PTSD may also have comorbid depression and anxiety in an intractable and long-term course, which makes establishing a comprehensive treatment plan difficult and complicated. The present article reviews current pharmacological manipulations for adjusting abnormal fear memory. The roles of the central monoaminergic systems (including serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) within the fear circuit areas and the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are explored based on attempts to integrate current clinical and preclinical basic studies. In this review, we explain how these therapeutic paradigms function based on their connections to stages of the abnormal fear memory process from condition to extinction. This may provide useful translational interpretations for clinicians to manage PTSD.
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12
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dos Santos Corrêa M, Grisanti GDV, Franciscatto IAF, Tarumoto TSA, Tiba PA, Ferreira TL, Fornari RV. Remote contextual fear retrieval engages activity from salience network regions in rats. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 18:100459. [PMID: 35601686 PMCID: PMC9118522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to retrieve contextual fear memories depends on the coordinated activation of a brain-wide circuitry. Transition from recent to remote memories seems to involve the reorganization of this circuitry, a process called systems consolidation that has been associated with time-dependent fear generalization. However, it is unknown whether emotional memories acquired under different stress levels can undergo different systems consolidation processes. Here, we explored the activation pattern and functional connectivity of key brain regions associated with contextual fear conditioning (CFC) retrieval after recent (2 days) or remote (28 days) memory tests performed in rats submitted to strong (1.0 mA footshock) or mild (0.3 mA footshock) training. We used brain tissue from Wistar rats from a previous study, where we observed that increasing training intensity promotes fear memory generalization over time, possibly due to an increase in corticosterone (CORT) levels during memory consolidation. Analysis of Fos expression across 8 regions of interest (ROIs) allowed us to identify coactivation between them at both timepoints following memory recall. Our results showed that strong CFC elicits higher Fos activation in the anterior insular and prelimbic cortices during remote retrieval, which was positively correlated with freezing along with the basolateral amygdala. Rats trained either with mild or strong CFC showed broad functional connectivity at the recent timepoint whereas only animals submitted to the strong CFC showed a widespread loss of coactivation during remote retrieval. Post-training plasma CORT levels are positively correlated with FOS expression during recent retrieval in strong CFC, but negatively correlated with FOS expression during remote retrieval in mild CFC. Our findings suggest that increasing training intensity results in differential processes of systems consolidation, possibly associated with increased post-training CORT release, and that strong CFC engages activity from the aIC, BLA and PrL – areas associated with the Salience Network in rats – during remote retrieval. Different training intensities may induce different systems consolidation processes. Mild training induces a broad functional connectivity at recent and remote recall. Strong training results in a widespread loss of coactivation during remote retrieval. Strong training engages areas related to the salience network during remote recall. Post-training corticosterone is associated with Fos expression during retrieval.
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13
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Schwabe L, Hermans EJ, Joëls M, Roozendaal B. Mechanisms of memory under stress. Neuron 2022; 110:1450-1467. [PMID: 35316661 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that stress has a major impact on memory, driven by the concerted action of various stress mediators on the brain. Recent years, however, have seen considerable advances in our understanding of the cellular, neural network, and cognitive mechanisms through which stress alters memory. These novel insights highlight the intricate interplay of multiple stress mediators, including-beyond corticosteroids, catecholamines, and peptides-for instance, endocannabinoids, which results in time-dependent shifts in large-scale neural networks. Such stress-induced network shifts enable highly specific memories of the stressful experience in the long run at the cost of transient impairments in mnemonic flexibility during and shortly after a stressful event. Based on these recent discoveries, we provide a new integrative framework that links the cellular, systems, and cognitive mechanisms underlying acute stress effects on memory processes and points to potential targets for treating aberrant memory in stress-related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Schwabe
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Erno J Hermans
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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14
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Shields GS, Hunter CL, Yonelinas AP. Stress and memory encoding: What are the roles of the stress-encoding delay and stress relevance? Learn Mem 2022; 29:48-54. [PMID: 35042828 PMCID: PMC8774196 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053469.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of acute stress on memory encoding are complex. Recent work has suggested that both the delay between stress and encoding and the relevance of the information learned to the stressor may modulate the effects of stress on memory encoding, but the relative contribution of each of these two factors is unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we manipulated (1) acute stress, (2) the delay between stress and encoding, and (3) the relevance of the information learned to the stressor. The results indicated that stress during encoding led to better memory for study materials that were related to the stressor relative to memory for study materials that were unrelated to the stressor. This effect was numerically reduced for materials that were encoded 40 min after stressor onset (23 min after the stressor had ended) compared with items encoded at the time of the stressor, but this difference was not significant. These results suggest that the relevance of the information learned to the stressor may play a particularly important role in the effects of stress on memory encoding, which has important implications for theories of stress and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant S. Shields
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
| | - Colton L. Hunter
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
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15
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Szőllősi Á, Kéri S, Racsmány M. The key to superior memory encoding under stress: the relationship between cortisol response and mnemonic discrimination. Learn Mem 2022; 29:7-15. [PMID: 34911799 PMCID: PMC8686593 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053452.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Some previous studies have shown that increased stress hormone levels have beneficial effects on memory encoding; however, there is no clear consensus on which encoding-related processes are affected by stress hormones. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between interindividual differences in neuroendocrine response to acute stress and interference resolution (i.e., mnemonic discrimination). Participants were healthy young adults who were exposed to physical and psychological stressors (Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test). Then participants completed the modified version of the Mnemonic Similarity Task. Specifically, they were presented with photographs of emotionally arousing (negative and positive) and nonarousing (neutral) scenes followed by a recognition memory test where they saw a mixture of old and new stimuli. Crucially, participants were also presented with critical lure items, that is, visually similar stimuli to ones presented at encoding. We found that participants who had higher cortisol response to the stressors were better in discriminating between the studied items and their visually similar lures. This effect was present for the arousing and nonarousing materials as well. These findings suggest that increased hormonal response to acute stress has a beneficial impact on the formation of distinct, nonoverlapping, unique memory representations, and consequently, on episodic memory encoding processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Szőllősi
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111-Budapest, Hungary,Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, 1117-Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Kéri
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111-Budapest, Hungary,Nyíro˝ Gyula National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions, 1135-Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mihály Racsmány
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111-Budapest, Hungary,Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, 1117-Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Lesuis SL, Brosens N, Immerzeel N, van der Loo RJ, Mitrić M, Bielefeld P, Fitzsimons CP, Lucassen PJ, Kushner SA, van den Oever MC, Krugers HJ. Glucocorticoids Promote Fear Generalization by Increasing the Size of a Dentate Gyrus Engram Cell Population. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 90:494-504. [PMID: 34503674 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic experiences, such as conditioned threat, are coded as enduring memories that are frequently subject to generalization, which is characterized by (re-) expression of fear in safe environments. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying threat generalization after a traumatic experience and the role of stress hormones in this process remain poorly understood. METHODS We examined the influence of glucocorticoid hormones on the strength and specificity of conditioned fear memory at the level of sparsely distributed dentate gyrus (DG) engram cells in male mice. RESULTS We found that elevating glucocorticoid hormones after fear conditioning induces a generalized contextual fear response. This was accompanied by a selective and persistent increase in the excitability and number of activated DG granule cells. Selective chemogenetic suppression of these sparse cells in the DG prevented glucocorticoid-induced fear generalization and restored contextual memory specificity, while leaving expression of auditory fear memory unaffected. CONCLUSIONS These results implicate the sparse ensemble of DG engram cells as a critical cellular substrate underlying fear generalization induced by glucocorticoid stress hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie L Lesuis
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Niek Brosens
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Immerzeel
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rolinka J van der Loo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miodrag Mitrić
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal Bielefeld
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlos P Fitzsimons
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J Lucassen
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven A Kushner
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel C van den Oever
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J Krugers
- Brain Plasticity Group, SILS-CNS, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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17
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Abstract
Treatment for critical illness typically focuses on a patient's short-term physical recovery; however, recent work has broadened our understanding of the long-term implications of illness and treatment strategies. In particular, survivors of critical illness have significantly elevated risk of developing lasting cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorders. In this review, we examine the role of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids in neuropsychiatric outcomes following critical illness. Illness is marked by acute elevation of free cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone suppression, which typically normalize after recovery; however, prolonged dysregulation can sometimes occur. High glucocorticoid levels can cause lasting alterations to the plasticity and structural integrity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and this mechanism may plausibly contribute to impaired memory and cognition in critical illness survivors, though specific evidence is lacking. Glucocorticoids may also exacerbate inflammation-associated neural damage. Conversely, current evidence indicates that glucocorticoids during illness may protect against the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. We propose future directions for research in this field, including determining the role of persistent glucocorticoid elevations after illness in neuropsychiatric outcomes, the role of systemic vs neuroinflammation, and probing unexplored lines of investigation on the role of mineralocorticoid receptors and the gut-brain axis. Progress toward personalized medicine in this area has the potential to produce tangible improvements to the lives patients after a critical illness, including Coronavirus Disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice R Hill
- Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joanna L Spencer-Segal
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Deparment of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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18
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Norepinephrine and glucocorticoid effects on the brain mechanisms underlying memory accuracy and generalization. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 108:103537. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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