Cited by 141Memory and Neural MechanismsNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and Cortisol

The effect of intranasal oxytocin treatment on conditioned fear extinction and recall in a healthy human sample

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Acheson, Dean, Feifel, David, de Wilde, Sofieke, Mckinney, Rebecca, Lohr, James, Risbrough, Victoria·2013·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale To improve outcomes for patients undergoing extinction-based therapies (e.g., exposure therapy) for anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there has been interest in identifying pharmaceutical compounds that might facilitate fear extinction learning and recall. Oxytocin (OT) is a mammalian neuropeptide that modulates activation of fear extinction-based neural circuits and fear responses. Little is known, however, about the effects of OT treatment on conditioned fear responding and extinction in humans.Objectives The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of OT in a fear-potentiated startle task of fear conditioning and extinction.Methods A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 44 healthy human participants was conducted. Participants underwent a conditioned fear acquisition procedure, after which they were randomized to treatment group and delivered OT (24 IU) or placebo via intranasal (IN) spray. Forty-five minutes after treatment, participants underwent extinction training. Twenty-four hours later, subjects were tested for extinction recall.Results Relative to placebo, the OT group showed increased fear-potentiated startle responding during the earliest stage of extinction training relative to placebo; however, all treatment groups showed the same level of reduced responding by the end of extinction training. Twenty-four hours later, the OT group showed significantly higher recall of extinction relative to placebo.Conclusions The current study provides preliminary evidence that OT may facilitate fear extinction recall in humans. These results support further study of OT as a potential adjunctive treatment for extinction-based therapies in fear-related disorders.

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  1. Committee on treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder IoMotNA 2007 Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Assessment of the Evidence The National Academies Press Washington, D.C

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Authors
Acheson, D., Feifel, D., de Wilde, S., Mckinney, R., Lohr, J., & Risbrough, V.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Veterans Health Administration (US)
Corresponding author
Risbrough, Victoria
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2013-05-05
Volume
229
Issue
1
Pages
199-208
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2024925365
Cited by
141
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 7
FWCI
9.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R34MH091285)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
oxytocin, fear extinction, extinction recall, fear conditioning, fear-potentiated startle, intranasal administration, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, adjunctive therapy
MeSH terms
Adult, Conditioning, Psychological, Extinction, Psychological, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Mental Recall, Reflex, Startle, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult

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