Cited by 184Memory and Neural MechanismsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMemory Processes and Influences

Recent fear is resistant to extinction

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Maren, Stephen, Chang, Chun-hui·2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

In some individuals, fearful experiences (e.g., combat) yield persistent and debilitating psychological disturbances, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Early intervention (e.g., debriefing) after psychological trauma is widely practiced and argued to be an effective strategy for limiting subsequent psychopathology, although there has been considerable debate on this point. Here we show in an animal model of traumatic fear that early intervention shortly after an aversive experience yields poor long-term fear reduction. Extinction trials administered minutes after aversive fear conditioning in rats suppressed fear acutely, but fear suppression was not maintained the next day. In contrast, delivering extinction trials 1 day after fear conditioning produced an enduring suppression of fear memory. We further show that the recent experience of an aversive event, not the timing of the extinction intervention per se, inhibits the development of long-term fear extinction. These results reveal that the level of fear present at the time of intervention is a critical factor in the efficacy of extinction. Importantly, our work suggests that early intervention may not yield optimal outcomes in reducing posttraumatic stress, particularly after severe trauma.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0608398103

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Authors
Maren, S., & Chang, C.-H.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • *Department of Psychology and
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2006-11-21
Volume
103
Issue
47
Pages
18020-18025
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W1991036243
Cited by
184
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 10
FWCI
5.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH065961)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
fear extinction, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear conditioning, early intervention, debriefing, extinction time, fear memory consolidation, war injuries
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Conditioning, Classical, Extinction, Psychological, Fear, Humans, Male, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats

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