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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Fear Incubation Using an Extended Fear-Conditioning Protocol for Rats
Published on: August 22, 2020
The enhancement of contextual fear conditioning by ABT-418
Justin W Kenney1, Derek S Wilkinson, Thomas J Gould
1Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
Abstract:
Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is known to modulate various forms of learning and memory, including contextual fear conditioning. Although numerous studies have shown that high-affinity beta2-containing nAChRs are necessary for the nicotine-induced enhancement of contextual fear conditioning, it is unknown whether other high-affinity nAChR agonists are capable of enhancing this learning. To examine this issue, ABT-418, a high-affinity nAChR agonist with greater selectivity for high-affinity receptors than nicotine, was administered before acquisition and/or recall of contextual fear memories. ABT-418 enhanced acquisition of contextual fear memories in a dose-dependent manner.
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