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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
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Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
Published on: August 24, 2012
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Enhanced synchronization between prelimbic and infralimbic cortices during fear extinction learning.
Mayumi Watanabe1,2, Akira Uematsu3,4, Joshua P Johansen5,6,7
1RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan.
Molecular Brain
|December 13, 2021
Summary
Extinguishing fear memories involves interaction between the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PL) cortex. Enhanced fast gamma frequency synchronization between these brain regions supports fear extinction learning in rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Extinguishing aversive memories is crucial for adapting to changing environments.
- The infralimbic cortex (IL) is vital for fear extinction, while the prelimbic cortex (PL) is linked to fear expression.
- The functional interaction between IL and PL during fear extinction remains unclear despite their known connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional interaction between the prelimbic cortex (PL) and infralimbic cortex (IL) during auditory fear memory extinction.
- To determine if neural synchronization between PL and IL changes during the process of fear extinction.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous local field potential (LFP) recordings from the PL and IL regions of awake, behaving rats.
- Analysis of LFP power in the fast gamma frequency band (100-200 Hz) during auditory fear extinction learning.
- Coherency analysis to assess the synchronization between PL and IL activity.
Main Results:
- Increased LFP power in the fast gamma frequency was observed in both PL and IL during extinction learning.
- Enhanced synchronization in the fast gamma frequency between PL and IL was detected as extinction progressed.
- These findings indicate increased interregional communication between PL and IL during fear extinction.
Conclusions:
- The study provides evidence for functional interaction between the prelimbic cortex (PL) and infralimbic cortex (IL) during fear memory extinction.
- Increased synchronization in the fast gamma frequency band suggests enhanced communication between PL and IL supports the extinction process.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the extinction of aversive memories.
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