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Preventing the return of fear in humans using reconsolidation update mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Daniela Schiller

    (Center for Neural Science,
    New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA)

  • Marie-H. Monfils

    (Center for Neural Science,
    University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA)

  • Candace M. Raio

    (New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA)

  • David C. Johnson

    (New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA)

  • Joseph E. LeDoux

    (Center for Neural Science,)

  • Elizabeth A. Phelps

    (Center for Neural Science,
    New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA)

Abstract

Recent research on changing fears has examined targeting reconsolidation. During reconsolidation, stored information is rendered labile after being retrieved. Pharmacological manipulations at this stage result in an inability to retrieve the memories at later times, suggesting that they are erased or persistently inhibited. Unfortunately, the use of these pharmacological manipulations in humans can be problematic. Here we introduce a non-invasive technique to target the reconsolidation of fear memories in humans. We provide evidence that old fear memories can be updated with non-fearful information provided during the reconsolidation window. As a consequence, fear responses are no longer expressed, an effect that lasted at least a year and was selective only to reactivated memories without affecting others. These findings demonstrate the adaptive role of reconsolidation as a window of opportunity to rewrite emotional memories, and suggest a non-invasive technique that can be used safely in humans to prevent the return of fear.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniela Schiller & Marie-H. Monfils & Candace M. Raio & David C. Johnson & Joseph E. LeDoux & Elizabeth A. Phelps, 2010. "Preventing the return of fear in humans using reconsolidation update mechanisms," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7277), pages 49-53, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:463:y:2010:i:7277:d:10.1038_nature08637
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08637
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ella Gabitov & Arnaud Boutin & Basile Pinsard & Nitzan Censor & Stuart M Fogel & Geneviève Albouy & Bradley R King & Julie Carrier & Leonardo G Cohen & Avi Karni & Julien Doyon, 2019. "Susceptibility of consolidated procedural memory to interference is independent of its active task-based retrieval," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Yoav Kessler & Susan Vandermorris & Nigel Gopie & Alexander Daros & Gordon Winocur & Morris Moscovitch, 2014. "Divided Attention Improves Delayed, but Not Immediate Retrieval of a Consolidated Memory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-6, March.
    3. Cecilia Forcato & María L C Rodríguez & María E Pedreira, 2011. "Repeated Labilization-Reconsolidation Processes Strengthen Declarative Memory in Humans," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Simon P Orozco & Scott T Albert & Reza Shadmehr, 2021. "Adaptive control of movement deceleration during saccades," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(7), pages 1-30, July.
    5. Mouna Maroun & Alexandra Kavushansky & Andrew Holmes & Cara Wellman & Helen Motanis, 2012. "Enhanced Extinction of Aversive Memories by High-Frequency Stimulation of the Rat Infralimbic Cortex," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(5), pages 1-8, May.
    6. Amy L Cochran & Josh M Cisler, 2019. "A flexible and generalizable model of online latent-state learning," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-31, September.
    7. Megan E. Speer & Sandra Ibrahim & Daniela Schiller & Mauricio R. Delgado, 2021. "Finding positive meaning in memories of negative events adaptively updates memory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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