title: Human fear extinction and return of fear using reconsolidation update mechanisms: the contribution of on-line expectancy ratings.
abstract: Disruption of the reconsolidation of conditioned fear memories has been suggested as a non-pharmacological means of preventing the return of learned fear in human populations. A reconsolidation update paradigm was developed in which a reconsolidation window is opened by a single isolated retrieval trial of a previously reinforced CS+ which is then followed by Extinction Training within that window. However, follow-up studies in humans using multi-methods fear conditioning indices (e.g., fear-potentiated startle, skin conductance, US-expectancy) have failed to replicate the retrieval+extinction effects. In the present study, we further investigated the retrieval+extinction reconsolidation update paradigm by directly comparing the acquisition, extinction, and return of fear-potentiated startle in the absence or presence of US-expectancy measures (using a trial-by-trial response keypad) with and without retrieval of a previously acquired CS-US association. Participants were fear conditioned to two visual cue CS+'s, one of which was presented as a single, isolated retrieval trial before Extinction Training and one that was extinguished as usual. The results show that the inclusion of US-expectancy measures strengthens the CS-US association to provide enhanced fear conditioning and maintenance of fear memories over the experimental sessions. In addition, in the groups that used on-line US-expectancy measures, the retrieval+extinction procedure reduced reinstatement of fear-potentiated startle to both previously reinforced CS+'s, as compared to the extinction as usual group.
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Victor Taylor
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Kemp M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Cliffe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bosshardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Bekh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: snorrho@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Seth Davin
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Norrholm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fear extinction; Fear-potentiated startle; Reconsolidation; Reinstatement; Spontaneous recovery; US expectancy