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Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
Published on: August 24, 2012
The Impact of Sleep on Fear Extinction
Ryan Bottary1,2, Laura D Straus3,4, Edward F Pace-Schott5,6,7
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Sleep plays a crucial role in the consolidation of memories, including those for fear acquisition and extinction training. This chapter reviews findings from studies testing this relationship in laboratory, naturalistic, and clinical settings. While evidence is mixed, several studies in humans have linked fear and extinction recall/retention to both rapid eye-movement and slow wave sleep. Sleep appears to further aid in the processing of both simulated and actual trauma and improves psychotherapeutic treatment outcomes in those with anxiety and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. This chapter concludes with a discussion of the current challenges facing sleep and emotional memory research in addition to suggestions for improving future research.
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