Cortisol before extinction generalization alters its neural correlates during retrieval

While generalization of fear seems to be naturally acquired as frequently observed in fear-related disorders, extinction learning appears to be stimulus-specific. Thus, treatments aiming to generalize extinction learning comprise the chance to overcome stimulus-specificity and consequently reduce relapse. One suggested candidate is the timing-dependent administration of the stress hormone cortisol. In the present pre-registered, three-day fear conditioning study, we aimed to create a generalized extinction memory trace in 60 healthy men and women using multiple sizes of one conditioned stimulus (CS+G; generalized) during extinction training, whereas the other CS (CS+N; non-generalized) and the CS- were solely presented in their original sizes. Extinction training took place either after pharmacological administration of 20 mg cortisol or placebo. Following successful fear acquisition on day one, generalization effects during extinction training and retrieval were investigated in the comparison of CS+G and CS+N. Insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) activation for CS+G as compared to CS+N extending to the second half of extinction training indicated prolonged fear processing during extinction training for the CS+G on day two. During retrieval on day three, an activation of the anterior hippocampus occurred for CS+N minus CS+G in the cortisol but not in the placebo group. Additionally, a more posterior hippocampal activation (compared to the other hippocampal activation) was observed for the contrast CS+G minus CS+N. In accordance with our hypotheses, amygdala and dACC responding during reinstatement test was reduced for the CS+G as compared to CS+N. However, cortisol did not modulate amygdala responding, but abolished the CS+G/CS+N differentiation in the dACC relative to placebo. Generalization and cortisol effects were not mirrored in skin conductance responses. In conclusion, extinction generalization processes appear to rely on prolonged fear processing still present in the second half of extinction training that in turn leads to reduced fear-related processing after reinstatement. Cortisol administration prior to extinction training, however, selectively reduced fear-related activation for standard extinction but did not further reduce fear-related activation for extinction generalization.