Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
The role of sleep in fear learning and memory
Per Davidson1, Edward Pace-Schott2
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Psychology, Lund University, Box 213, 221 00, Lund, Sweden.
Abstract:
During the last 10 years, a large body of studies have used fear conditioning paradigms to study the role of sleep in the consolidation of fear and safety learning. This line of research could allow us to answer if it is adaptive or not to sleep in the aftermath of a negative experience, and if sleep has a role in consolidating extinction learning. This field has so far produced several contrasting findings. Thus, this review will not deliver many clear conclusions, but will instead be an attempt to summarize what we know at the moment, to describe the potential clinical applications of this research, and to discuss where to go from here.
More Related Videos
08:08Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
Published on: June 18, 2014
08:32Disrupting Reconsolidation of Fear Memory in Humans by a Noradrenergic β-Blocker
Published on: December 18, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares...
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...