Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear

Authors
Publication date 2009
Journal Nature Neuroscience
Volume | Issue number 12 | 3
Pages (from-to) 256-258
Organisations
  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) - Psychology Research Institute (PsyRes)
Abstract 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.
Document type Article
Published at https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2271
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