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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
11:17
Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
Published on: August 24, 2012
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Individual variation in working memory is associated with fear extinction performance.
Daniel M Stout1, Dean T Acheson1, Tyler M Moore2
1Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|January 15, 2018
Summary
Working memory (WM) aids in regulating fear responses by enhancing fear inhibition during extinction learning. Higher WM ability improved extinction learning but did not affect initial fear acquisition in healthy Marines.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to impaired fear acquisition and extinction learning.
- Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive processes, yet its role in fear memory regulation is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between working memory (WM) capacity and fear acquisition and extinction in healthy adults.
- To determine if WM influences the ability to inhibit fear responses.
Main Methods:
- Assessed fear acquisition, extinction learning, and WM (N-back task) in a large sample of healthy Marines.
- Measured fear potentiated startle (FPS), fear expectancy, and anxiety as dependent variables.
Main Results:
- Higher WM ability correlated with enhanced fear inhibition during extinction and greater expectancy change during learning.
- WM ability did not influence the initial magnitude of fear conditioning or expression.
- Attention ability was unrelated to fear acquisition or extinction, highlighting WM's specific role.
Conclusions:
- Individual differences in working memory capacity significantly contribute to the regulation of fear responses.
- WM may play a key role in overcoming previously learned threat memories through inhibitory learning.
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