title: How to erase memory traces of pain and fear.
abstract: Pain and fear are both aversive experiences that strongly impact on behaviour and well being. They are considered protective when they lead to meaningful, adaptive behaviour such as the avoidance of situations that are potentially dangerous to the integrity of tissue (pain) or the individual (fear). Pain and fear may, however, become maladaptive if expressed under inappropriate conditions or at excessive intensities for extended durations. Currently emerging concepts of maladaptive pain and fear suggest that basic neuronal mechanisms of memory formation are relevant for the development of pathological forms of pain and fear. Thus, the processes of erasing memory traces of pain and fear may constitute promising targets for future therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. juergen.sandkuehler@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandkühler
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D059225:Nociception / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D058468:Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D058468:Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate; D003523:Cycloserine; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C