Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear.
Animal studies have shown that fear memories can change when recalled, a process referred to as reconsolidation. We found that oral administration of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol before memory reactivation in humans erased the behavioral expression of the fear memory 24 h later and prevented the return of fear. Disrupting the reconsolidation of fear memory opens up new avenues for providing a long-term cure for patients with emotional disorders.
Kindt
Merel
M
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.kindt@uva.nl
Soeter
Marieke
M
Vervliet
Bram
B
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D011433:Propranolol