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Updated: May 9, 2026

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
Published on: August 24, 2012
Temporal dynamics of recovery from extinction shortly after extinction acquisition
Georgina E Archbold1, Nick Dobbek, Karim Nader
1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A1B1. georgina.archbold@mail.mcgill.ca
Abstract:
Evidence suggests that extinction is new learning. Memory acquisition involves both short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) components; however, few studies have examined early phases of extinction retention. Retention of auditory fear extinction was examined at various time points. Shortly (1-4 h) after extinction acquisition spontaneous recovery was high compared to that after longer delays (8-24 h). Recall of a consolidated extinction trace was also impaired if it was preceded 1 h by extinction of a novel CS; propranolol did not attenuate this effect. These results suggest poor extinction retention reflects a retrieval impairment caused by the aversive experience of extinction training.
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