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Raskin M, Keller NE, Agee LA, Shumake J, Smits JA, Telch MJ, Otto MW, Lee HJ, Monfils MH. Carbon Dioxide Reactivity Differentially Predicts Fear Expression After Extinction and Retrieval-Extinction in Rats. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100310. [PMID: 38680941 PMCID: PMC11047292 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100310] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cues present during a traumatic event may result in persistent fear responses. These responses can be attenuated through extinction learning, a core component of exposure therapy. Exposure/extinction is effective for some people, but not all. We recently demonstrated that carbon dioxide (CO2) reactivity predicts fear extinction memory and orexin activation and that orexin activation predicts fear extinction memory, which suggests that a CO2 challenge may enable identification of whether an individual is a good candidate for an extinction-based approach. Another method to attenuate conditioned responses, retrieval-extinction, renders the original associative memory labile via distinct neural mechanisms. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether we could replicate previous findings that retrieval-extinction is more effective than extinction at preventing the return of fear and that CO2 reactivity predicts fear memory after extinction. We also examined whether CO2 reactivity predicts fear memory after retrieval-extinction. Methods Male rats first underwent a CO2 challenge and fear conditioning and were assigned to receive either standard extinction (n = 28) or retrieval-extinction (n = 28). Then, they underwent a long-term memory (LTM) test and a reinstatement test. Results We found that retrieval-extinction resulted in lower freezing during extinction, LTM, and reinstatement than standard extinction. Using the best subset approach to linear regression, we found that CO2 reactivity predicted LTM after extinction and also predicted LTM after retrieval-extinction, although to a lesser degree. Conclusions CO2 reactivity could be used as a screening tool to determine whether an individual may be a good candidate for an extinction-based therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Raskin
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Nicole E. Keller
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Laura A. Agee
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Jason Shumake
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Jasper A.J. Smits
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Michael J. Telch
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Michael W. Otto
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hongjoo J. Lee
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - Marie-H. Monfils
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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2
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Sierra RO, Pedraza LK, Barcsai L, Pejin A, Li Q, Kozák G, Takeuchi Y, Nagy AJ, Lőrincz ML, Devinsky O, Buzsáki G, Berényi A. Closed-loop brain stimulation augments fear extinction in male rats. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3972. [PMID: 37407557 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39546-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated fear reactions can result from maladaptive processing of trauma-related memories. In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders, dysfunctional extinction learning prevents discretization of trauma-related memory engrams and generalizes fear responses. Although PTSD may be viewed as a memory-based disorder, no approved treatments target pathological fear memory processing. Hippocampal sharp wave-ripples (SWRs) and concurrent neocortical oscillations are scaffolds to consolidate contextual memory, but their role during fear processing remains poorly understood. Here, we show that closed-loop, SWR triggered neuromodulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) can enhance fear extinction consolidation in male rats. The modified fear memories became resistant to induced recall (i.e., 'renewal' and 'reinstatement') and did not reemerge spontaneously. These effects were mediated by D2 receptor signaling-induced synaptic remodeling in the basolateral amygdala. Our results demonstrate that SWR-triggered closed-loop stimulation of the MFB reward system enhances extinction of fearful memories and reducing fear expression across different contexts and preventing excessive and persistent fear responses. These findings highlight the potential of neuromodulation to augment extinction learning and provide a new avenue to develop treatments for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Ordoñez Sierra
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Lizeth Katherine Pedraza
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Lívia Barcsai
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- HCEMM-SZTE Magnetotherapeutics Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- Neunos Inc, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Andrea Pejin
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- HCEMM-SZTE Magnetotherapeutics Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- Neunos Inc, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Qun Li
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kozák
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Yuichi Takeuchi
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Anett J Nagy
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- HCEMM-SZTE Magnetotherapeutics Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- Neunos Inc, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
| | - Magor L Lőrincz
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Sciences University of Szeged, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Neuroscience Division, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - György Buzsáki
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Antal Berényi
- MTA-SZTE 'Momentum' Oscillatory Neuronal Networks Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary.
- HCEMM-SZTE Magnetotherapeutics Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6720, Hungary.
- Neunos Inc, Boston, MA, 02108, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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3
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Smith KA, Raskin MR, Donovan MH, Raghunath V, Mansoorshahi S, Telch MJ, Shumake J, Noble-Haeusslein LJ, Monfils MH. Examining the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury on fear extinction in male rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1206073. [PMID: 37397129 PMCID: PMC10313105 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1206073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a strong association between traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and the development of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure-based therapy is a first-line intervention for individuals who suffer from PTSD and other anxiety-related disorders; however, up to 50% of individuals with PTSD do not respond well to this approach. Fear extinction, a core mechanism underlying exposure-based therapy, is a procedure in which a repeated presentation of a conditioned stimulus in the absence of an unconditioned stimulus leads to a decrease in fear expression, and is a useful tool to better understand exposure-based therapy. Identifying predictors of extinction would be useful in developing alternative treatments for the non-responders. We recently found that CO2 reactivity predicts extinction phenotypes in rats, likely through the activation of orexin receptors in the lateral hypothalamus. While studies have reported mixed results in extinction of fear after TBI, none have examined the long-term durability of this phenotype in the more chronically injured brain. Here we tested the hypothesis that TBI results in a long-term deficit in fear extinction, and that CO2 reactivity would be predictive of this extinction phenotype. Isoflurane-anesthetized adult male rats received TBI (n = 59) (produced by a controlled cortical impactor) or sham surgery (n = 29). One month post-injury or sham surgery, rats underwent a CO2 or air challenge, followed by fear conditioning, extinction, and fear expression testing. TBI rats exposed to CO2 (TBI-CO2) showed no difference during extinction or fear expression relative to shams exposed to CO2 (sham-CO2). However, TBI-CO2 rats, showed significantly better fear expression than TBI rats exposed to air (TBI-air). In contrast to previous findings, we observed no relationship between CO2 reactivity and post-extinction fear expression in either the sham or TBI rats. However, compared to the previously observed naïve sample, we observed more variability in post-extinction fear expression but a very similar distribution of CO2 reactivity in the current sample. Isoflurane anesthesia may lead to interoceptive threat habituation, possibly via action on orexin receptors in the lateral hypothalamus, and may interact with CO2 exposure, resulting in enhanced extinction. Future work will directly test this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. A. Smith
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - M. R. Raskin
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - M. H. Donovan
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - V. Raghunath
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - S. Mansoorshahi
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - M. J. Telch
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Institute of Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - J. Shumake
- Institute of Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - L. J. Noble-Haeusslein
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - M. H. Monfils
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Institute of Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Raskin M, Monfils MH. Reconsolidation and Fear Extinction: An Update. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:307-333. [PMID: 37563489 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Fear memories can be updated behaviorally by delivering extinction trials during the reconsolidation window, which results in a persistent attenuation of fear memories (Monfils et al., Science 324:951-955, 2009). This safe and non-invasive paradigm, termed retrieval-extinction (or post-retrieval extinction), has also been found to be successful at preventing the return of fear in healthy fear conditioned humans (Schiller et al., Nature 463:49-53, 2010), and in the time since its discovery, there has been an explosion of research on the use of retrieval-extinction in fear memories in humans and other animals, some of which have found a long-term reduction in conditioned responding, and some who have not. These discrepant findings have raised concerns as to whether retrieval-extinction really results in updating of the original fear memory, or if it simply enhances extinction. We will first review the progress made on elucidating the cellular mechanisms underlying the fear attenuating effects of retrieval-extinction and how they differ from traditional extinction. Special attention will be paid to the molecular events necessary for retrieval-extinction to successfully occur and how these reconsolidated memories are represented in the brain. Next, we will examine the parameters that determine whether or not a memory will be updated via extinction during the reconsolidation window (also known as boundary conditions). These boundary conditions will also be discussed as possible explanations for discrepant findings of the retrieval-extinction effect. Then we will examine the factors that can determine whether an individual's fears will successfully be attenuated by retrieval-extinction. These individual differences include genetics, age, and psychopathology. Finally, we will discuss recent attempts to bring the retrieval-extinction paradigm from the bench to the bedside for the behavioral treatment of anxiety and trauma disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Raskin
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Marie-H Monfils
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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5
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Pedraza LK, Sierra RO, de Oliveira Alvares L. Systems consolidation and fear memory generalisation as a potential target for trauma-related disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:653-665. [PMID: 35001808 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2027010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory generalisation is a central hallmark in the broad range of anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Recent findings suggest that fear generalisation is closely related to hippocampal dependency during retrieval. In this review, we describe the current understanding about memory generalisation and its potential influence in fear attenuation through pharmacological and behavioural interventions. In light of systems consolidation framework, we propose that keeping memory precision could be a key step to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizeth K Pedraza
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rodrigo O Sierra
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lucas de Oliveira Alvares
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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6
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Appraising reconsolidation theory and its empirical validation. Psychon Bull Rev 2022; 30:450-463. [PMID: 36085236 PMCID: PMC7614440 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Re-exposure to elements of prior experiences can create opportunities for inducing amnesia for those events. The dominant theoretical framework posits that such re-exposure can result in memory destabilization, making the memory representation temporarily sensitive to disruption while it awaits reconsolidation. If true, such a mechanism that allows for memories to be permanently changed could have important implications for the treatment of several forms of psychopathology. However, there have been contradictory findings and elusive occurrences of replication failures within the "reconsolidation" field. Considering its potential relevance for clinical applications, the fact that this "hot" research area is being dominated by a single mechanistic theory, and the presence of unexplainable contradictory findings, we believe that it is both useful and timely to critically evaluate the reconsolidation framework. We discuss potential issues that may arise from how reconsolidation interference has typically been deducted from behavioral observations, and provide a principled assessment of reconsolidation theory that illustrates that the theory and its proposed boundary conditions are vaguely defined, which has made it close to impossible to refute reconsolidation theory. We advocate for caution, encouraging researchers not to blindly assume that a reconsolidation process must underlie their findings, and pointing out the risks of doing so. Finally, we suggest concrete theoretical and methodological advances that can promote a fruitful translation of reminder-dependent amnesia into clinical treatment.
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7
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The elegant complexity of fear in non-human animals. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:445-455. [PMID: 36069657 PMCID: PMC9788375 DOI: 10.1042/etls20220001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activation of the fear system is adaptive, and protects individuals from impending harm; yet, exacerbation of the fear system is at the source of anxiety-related disorders. Here, we briefly review the 'why' and 'how' of fear, with an emphasis on models that encapsulate the elegant complexity of rodents' behavioral responding in the face of impending harm, and its relevance to developing treatment interventions.
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8
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Maples-Keller J, Watkins LE, Nylocks KM, Yasinski C, Coghlan C, Black K, Jovanovic T, Rauch SA, Rothbaum BO, Norrholm SD. Acquisition, extinction, and return of fear in veterans in intensive outpatient prolonged exposure therapy: A fear-potentiated startle study. Behav Res Ther 2022; 154:104124. [PMID: 35642990 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy is a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and involves repeated presentation of trauma-related cues without aversive outcomes. A primary learning mechanism of PE is fear extinction (new learning that a dangerous cue is now safe) and its retention (maintaining this new learning over time). Extant research suggests extinction is impaired in PTSD patients. In this study, we employed an established fear-potentiated startle-based paradigm to examine fear acquisition, extinction learning and retention before and after completion of intensive outpatient treatment. First, PTSD patients undergoing PE (n = 55) were compared to trauma-exposed patients without PTSD (n = 57). We identified excessive fear in PTSD patients during acquisition and extinction before treatment compared to non-PTSD patients. At post-treatment, we examined the return of fear after extinction in PTSD patients showing high or low treatment response to PE (≥50% change in PTSD symptom severity vs. < 50%). High PE responders maintained fear extinction learning whereas low PE responders showed significant return of fear at post-treatment. These results replicate and extend previous findings of impaired extinction in PTSD and provide support for the proposed theoretical link between fear extinction and PE response.
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9
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Maples-Keller JL, Norrholm SD, Burton M, Reiff C, Coghlan C, Jovanovic T, Yasinski C, Jarboe K, Rakofsky J, Rauch S, Dunlop BW, Rothbaum BO. A randomized controlled trial of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and fear extinction retention in healthy adults. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:368-377. [PMID: 35166140 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211069124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear conditioning and extinction are well-characterized cross-species models of fear-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and recent animal data suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) enhances fear extinction retention. AIMS This study investigated the effect of MDMA on fear learning, extinction training, and retention in healthy humans. METHODS The study involved a randomized placebo-controlled, two-group, parallel design trial in a sample of healthy adults, age 21-55 recruited from a major metropolitan area. The experimental paradigm included a fear acquisition session followed by an extinction training session 24 hours later, and 2 hours after study drug administration. Fear extinction retention was measured 48 hours after extinction training. Participants (N = 34; 70.6% male and 29.4% female) were randomly assigned in 1:1 ratio to 100 mg MDMA or placebo. All randomized participants completed the trial and were included in primary analyses. Safety was monitored via adverse events and vital signs. MDMA was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. RESULTS Results indicated a significant main effect of session between extinction training and retention with no significant group differences. Significantly more participants in the MDMA group retained extinction learning compared to the placebo group (χ2 = 7.29, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION Although we did not observe the hypothesized facilitation of extinction retention, the findings from this initial human trial provide compelling rationale to continue to explore the potential for MDMA to impact extinction retention.Clinical Trials Registry Name and Identifier: Evaluation of MDMA on Startle Response (NCT0318176) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03181763?term = MDMA&draw = 2&rank = 9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Maples-Keller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Seth D Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mark Burton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Collin Reiff
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Callan Coghlan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Carly Yasinski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kathleen Jarboe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rakofsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sheila Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Atlanta VA Healthcare System
| | - Boadie W Dunlop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Gale G, Walsh K, Hennessy VE, Stemerding LE, Ni KS, Thomas E, Kamboj SK, Das RK. Long-term behavioural rewriting of maladaptive drinking memories via reconsolidation-update mechanisms. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2875-2885. [PMID: 32539883 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorders can be conceptualised as a learned pattern of maladaptive alcohol-consumption behaviours. The memories encoding these behaviours centrally contribute to long-term excessive alcohol consumption and are therefore an important therapeutic target. The transient period of memory instability sparked during memory reconsolidation offers a therapeutic window to directly rewrite these memories using targeted behavioural interventions. However, clinically-relevant demonstrations of the efficacy of this approach are few. We examined key retrieval parameters for destabilising naturalistic drinking memories and the ability of subsequent counterconditioning to effect long-term reductions in drinking. METHODS Hazardous/harmful beer-drinking volunteers (N = 120) were factorially randomised to retrieve (RET) or not retrieve (No RET) alcohol reward memories with (PE) or without (No PE) alcohol reward prediction error. All participants subsequently underwent disgust-based counterconditioning of drinking cues. Acute responses to alcohol were assessed pre- and post-manipulation and drinking levels were assessed up to 9 months. RESULTS Greater long-term reductions in drinking were found when counterconditioning was conducted following retrieval (with and without PE), despite a lack of short-term group differences in motivational responding to acute alcohol. Large variability in acute levels of learning during counterconditioning was noted. 'Responsiveness' to counterconditioning predicted subsequent responses to acute alcohol in RET + PE only, consistent with reconsolidation-update mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS The longevity of behavioural interventions designed to reduce problematic drinking levels may be enhanced by leveraging reconsolidation-update mechanisms to rewrite maladaptive memory. However, inter-individual variability in levels of corrective learning is likely to determine the efficacy of reconsolidation-updating interventions and should be considered when designing and assessing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Gale
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Katie Walsh
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Vanessa E Hennessy
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - L E Stemerding
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Koa Sher Ni
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Emily Thomas
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Sunjeev K Kamboj
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Ravi K Das
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, LondonWC1H 0AP, UK
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11
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Lages YVM, Rossi AD, Krahe TE, Landeira-Fernandez J. Effect of chronic unpredictable mild stress on the expression profile of serotonin receptors in rats and mice: a meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 124:78-88. [PMID: 33524415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic-stress-induced depression is recognized as a widespread public health concern. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been the most common treatment for this illness. However, the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor subtypes in stress-induced depression remains unclear. Evidence from Animal studies has reported a variety of results regarding the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on serotonin signaling pathways and 5-HT receptor subtypes. This divergence may rely on differences in protocols, methods, and studied pathways. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to weigh the currently available findings regarding serotonin receptor changes in animal models of CUMS. Overall, our meta-analysis results showed the association of altered expression of 5-HT1A receptors in the frontal cortex and 5-HT2A receptors both in the whole cortex and the hypothalamus of rats following CUMS. Moreover, by using a qualitative-structured analysis and the application of risk-of-bias tools, we identified possible sources of data variation between the studied literature, which should be taken into account in future animal studies of chronic-stress induced depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V M Lages
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A D Rossi
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - T E Krahe
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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12
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Chalkia A, Schroyens N, Leng L, Vanhasbroeck N, Zenses AK, Van Oudenhove L, Beckers T. No persistent attenuation of fear memories in humans: A registered replication of the reactivation-extinction effect. Cortex 2020; 129:496-509. [PMID: 32580869 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that memory retrieval can destabilize consolidated memories, after which they need to be reconsolidated in order to be retained. The presentation of relevant information during memory reconsolidation could then result in the modification of a destabilized memory trace, by allowing the memory trace to be updated before being reconsolidated. In line with this idea, Schiller et al. (2010) have demonstrated that memory retrieval shortly before extinction training can prevent the later recovery of conditioned fear responding that is observed after regular extinction training. Those findings have been the subject of considerable controversy, due in part to theoretical reasons but also due to a number of failures to obtain similar results in conceptual replication attempts. Here, we report the results of a highly powered, direct, independent replication of the critical conditions of Schiller et al. (2010, Experiment 1). Due to misrepresentation of the exclusion criteria in the original Schiller et al. (2010) report, data collection was considerably delayed. When we eventually managed to attain our pre-registered sample size, we found that we could not observe any benefit of reactivation-extinction over regular extinction training in preventing recovery of conditioned fear. The results of the present study, along with the mixed findings in the literature and the misreporting in Schiller et al. (2010), give cause to question whether there is robust evidence that reactivation-extinction prevents the return of fear in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Chalkia
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalie Schroyens
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lu Leng
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niels Vanhasbroeck
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ann-Kathrin Zenses
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lukas Van Oudenhove
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies (LaBGAS), Translational Research Centre for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism, and Ageing, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Beckers
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium.
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13
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Kuijer EJ, Ferragud A, Milton AL. Retrieval-Extinction and Relapse Prevention: Rewriting Maladaptive Drug Memories? Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:23. [PMID: 32153373 PMCID: PMC7044236 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Addicted individuals are highly susceptible to relapse when exposed to drug-associated conditioned stimuli (CSs; "drug cues") even after extensive periods of abstinence. Until recently, these maladaptive emotional drug memories were believed to be permanent and resistant to change. The rediscovery of the phenomenon of memory reconsolidation-by which retrieval of the memory can, under certain conditions, destabilize the previously stable memory before it restabilizes in its new, updated form-has led to the hypothesis that it may be possible to disrupt the strong maladaptive drug-memories that trigger a relapse. Furthermore, recent work has suggested that extinction training "within the reconsolidation window" may lead to a long-term reduction in relapse without the requirement for pharmacological amnestic agents. However, this so-called "retrieval-extinction" effect has been inconsistently observed in the literature, leading some to speculate that rather than reflecting memory updating, it may be the product of facilitation of extinction. In this mini review article, we will focus on factors that might be responsible for the retrieval-extinction effects on preventing drug-seeking relapse and how inter-individual differences may influence this therapeutically promising effect. A better understanding of the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underpinning the "retrieval-extinction" paradigm, and individual differences in boundary conditions, should provide insights with the potential to optimize the translation of "retrieval-extinction" to clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise J. Kuijer
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Antonio Ferragud
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Amy L. Milton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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14
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Haaker J, Maren S, Andreatta M, Merz CJ, Richter J, Richter SH, Meir Drexler S, Lange MD, Jüngling K, Nees F, Seidenbecher T, Fullana MA, Wotjak CT, Lonsdorf TB. Making translation work: Harmonizing cross-species methodology in the behavioural neuroscience of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:329-345. [PMID: 31521698 PMCID: PMC7822629 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience bridges insights from specific mechanisms in rodents to complex functions in humans and is key to advance our general understanding of central nervous function. A prime example of translational research is the study of cross-species mechanisms that underlie responding to learned threats, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols in rodents and humans. Hitherto, evidence for (and critique of) these cross-species comparisons in fear conditioning research was based on theoretical viewpoints. Here, we provide a perspective to substantiate these theoretical concepts with empirical considerations of cross-species methodology. This meta-research perspective is expected to foster cross-species comparability and reproducibility to ultimately facilitate successful transfer of results from basic science into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Haaker
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christian J Merz
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Jan Richter
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Shira Meir Drexler
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Maren D Lange
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kay Jüngling
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Miquel A Fullana
- Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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15
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Shumake J, Jones C, Auchter A, Monfils MH. Data-driven criteria to assess fear remission and phenotypic variability of extinction in rats. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0035. [PMID: 29352033 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fear conditioning is widely employed to examine the mechanisms that underlie dysregulations of the fear system. Various manipulations are often used following fear acquisition to attenuate fear memories. In rodent studies, freezing is often the main output measure to quantify 'fear'. Here, we developed data-driven criteria for defining a standard benchmark that indicates remission from conditioned fear and for identifying subgroups with differential treatment responses. These analyses will enable a better understanding of individual differences in treatment responding.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Of mice and mental health: facilitating dialogue between basic and clinical neuroscientists'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Shumake
- Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Carolyn Jones
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Allison Auchter
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Marie-Hélène Monfils
- Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA .,Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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16
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Milton AL, Holmes EA. Of mice and mental health: facilitating dialogue and seeing further. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0022. [PMID: 29352022 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The science of mental life is critical for understanding both how we function, and impairments in our functioning. However, understanding the causal mechanisms underlying mental health disorders and developing new treatments are challenges too great to be solved by any individual approach. There is a growing awareness that translational research-from laboratory to patient and back again to animal models-will be critical for the improved understanding and treatment of mental health disorders. The motivation and intention to pursue translational approaches is therefore strong in mental health research, but critically, opportunities for interaction between basic scientists and clinicians are relatively limited, and vary depending on the institution in which researchers are working. This has promoted the development of a 'culture gap' between basic and clinical scientists that limits interaction and sharing of knowledge. Here, we provide 14 examples of contemporary translational research and call for an increased collaborative approach to mental health research that spans clinical diagnoses, levels of analysis and bridges between basic to clinical mental health sciences, including, but not limited to, psychology and neuroscience. What is needed is an inclusive and integrated approach, bringing together scientists working at all levels of enquiry with clinicians providing insights on what works (and what does not). To stimulate the much-needed innovation in therapeutic techniques, an analysis of component parts is critical. Our approach suggests simplifying complex behaviours into distinct psychological components. Asking collaboratively driven scientific questions about dysfunction will also benefit our fundamental understanding of mental life.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Of mice and mental health: facilitating dialogue between basic and clinical neuroscientists'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Milton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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17
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Monfils MH, Lee HJ, Keller NE, Roquet RF, Quevedo S, Agee L, Cofresi R, Shumake J. Predicting extinction phenotype to optimize fear reduction. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:99-110. [PMID: 30218131 PMCID: PMC6391193 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5005-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Fear conditioning is widely employed to study dysregulations of the fear system. The repeated presentation of a conditioned stimulus in the absence of a reinforcer leads to a decrease in fear responding-a phenomenon known as extinction. From a translational perspective, identifying whether an individual might respond well to extinction prior to intervention could prove important to treatment outcomes. Here, we test the hypothesis that CO2 reactivity predicts extinction phenotype in rats, and that variability in CO2 reactivity as well as extinction long-term memory (LTM) significantly predicts orexin activity in the lateral hypothalamus (LH). Our results validate a rat model of CO2 reactivity and show that subcomponents of behavioral reactivity following acute CO2 exposure explain a significant portion of the variance in extinction LTM. Furthermore, we show evidence that variability in CO2 reactivity is also significantly predictive of orexin activity in the LH, and that orexin activity, in turn, significantly accounts for LTM variance. Our findings open the possibility that we may be able to use CO2 reactivity as a screening tool to determine if individuals are good candidates for an extinction/exposure-based approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Monfils
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Mental Health Research, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - H J Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, USA
| | - N E Keller
- Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, USA
| | - R F Roquet
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - S Quevedo
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - L Agee
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - R Cofresi
- Institute for Neuroscience, Austin, TX, USA
| | - J Shumake
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Institute for Mental Health Research, Austin, TX, USA
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18
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Monfils MH, Holmes EA. Memory boundaries: opening a window inspired by reconsolidation to treat anxiety, trauma-related, and addiction disorders. Lancet Psychiatry 2018; 5:1032-1042. [PMID: 30385214 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(18)30270-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Pioneering research over the past two decades has shown that memories are far more malleable than we once thought, thereby highlighting the potential for new clinical avenues for treatment of psychopathology. We first briefly review the historical foundation of memory reconsolidation-a concept that refers to hypothetical processes that occur when a memory is retrieved and restored. Then, we provide an overview of the basic research on memory reconsolidation that has been done with humans and other animals, focusing on models of fear, anxiety-related disorders, and addiction, from the perspective that they all involve disorders of memory. This basic research has fuelled early stage developments of novel treatment techniques. More specifically, we consider behavioural interventions inspired by reconsolidation updating, namely retrieval-extinction techniques. We discuss the set of principles that would be needed for memory modifications within a putative reconsolidation time window, and review research that employs reconsolidation-based strategies with clinical populations. We conclude by highlighting current pitfalls and controversies surrounding the use of reconsolidation-based approaches, but end on an optimistic note for clinical research going forward. Despite the challenges, we believe that drawing on ideas from psychological science can help open up treatment innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie H Monfils
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Mental Health Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Division of Psychology, Department for Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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19
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Krypotos AM, Moscarello JM, Sears RM, LeDoux JE, Galatzer-Levy I. A principled method to identify individual differences and behavioral shifts in signaled active avoidance. Learn Mem 2018; 25:564-568. [PMID: 30322888 PMCID: PMC6191017 DOI: 10.1101/lm.047399.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Signaled active avoidance (SigAA) is the key experimental procedure for studying the acquisition of instrumental responses toward conditioned threat cues. Traditional analytic approaches (e.g., general linear model) often obfuscate important individual differences, although individual differences in learned responses characterize both animal and human learning data. However, individual differences models (e.g., latent growth curve modeling) typically require large samples and onerous computational methods. Here, we present an analytic methodology that enables the detection of individual differences in SigAA performance at a high accuracy, even when a single animal is included in the data set (i.e., n = 1 level). We further show an online software that enables the easy application of our method to any SigAA data set.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justin M Moscarello
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 4235 TAMU, USA
| | - Robert M Sears
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York 10962, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Joseph E LeDoux
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York 10962, USA
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Isaac Galatzer-Levy
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, USA
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20
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Sevenster D, Visser RM, D'Hooge R. A translational perspective on neural circuits of fear extinction: Current promises and challenges. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:113-126. [PMID: 29981423 PMCID: PMC6805216 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fear extinction is the well-known process of fear reduction through repeated re-exposure to a feared stimulus without the aversive outcome. The last two decades have witnessed a surge of interest in extinction learning. First, extinction learning is observed across species, and especially research on rodents has made great strides in characterising the physical substrate underlying extinction learning. Second, extinction learning is considered of great clinical significance since it constitutes a crucial component of exposure treatment. While effective in reducing fear responding in the short term, extinction learning can lose its grip, resulting in a return of fear (i.e., laboratory model for relapse of anxiety symptoms in patients). Optimization of extinction learning is, therefore, the subject of intense investigation. It is thought that the success of extinction learning is, at least partly, determined by the mismatch between what is expected and what actually happens (prediction error). However, while much of our knowledge about the neural circuitry of extinction learning and factors that contribute to successful extinction learning comes from animal models, translating these findings to humans has been challenging for a number of reasons. Here, we present an overview of what is known about the animal circuitry underlying extinction of fear, and the role of prediction error. In addition, we conducted a systematic literature search to evaluate the degree to which state-of-the-art neuroimaging methods have contributed to translating these findings to humans. Results show substantial overlap between networks in animals and humans at a macroscale, but current imaging techniques preclude comparisons at a smaller scale, especially in sub-cortical areas that are functionally heterogeneous. Moreover, human neuroimaging shows the involvement of numerous areas that are not typically studied in animals. Results obtained in research aimed to map the extinction circuit are largely dependent on the methods employed, not only across species, but also across human neuroimaging studies. Directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwke Sevenster
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Renée M Visser
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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21
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Kredlow MA, Orr SP, Otto MW. Exploring the boundaries of post-retrieval extinction in healthy and anxious individuals. Behav Res Ther 2018; 108:45-57. [PMID: 29981938 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Over a dozen studies have examined the efficacy of post-retrieval extinction (PRE) in healthy adults in the fear conditioning laboratory, with a recent meta-analysis reporting an overall small-moderate effect on attenuating the return of fear compared to standard extinction. The current study was designed to extend PRE effects to a mixed sample of healthy and anxious individuals, explore potential moderators, and examine the benefit of PRE for a memory conditioned over multiple days. Healthy (n = 49) and anxious (n = 43) adults received either one day of acquisition followed by PRE, one day of acquisition followed by extinction, or three days of acquisition followed by PRE. Comparing participants who received one day of acquisition followed by PRE or extinction, no significant effect of PRE was observed on differential skin conductance response reinstatement or reactivity to the conditioned stimulus alone. Anxiety symptoms did not moderate outcomes. There was no difference in return of fear for anxious participants who received three days of acquisition followed by PRE versus one day of acquisition followed by PRE. These results further highlight the variability of findings in the PRE literature and need for further examination of individual difference factors that may moderate PRE effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alexandra Kredlow
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Scott P Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, East Building 120 -2nd Avenue, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States.
| | - Michael W Otto
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
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