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Backward conditioning reveals flexibility in infralimbic cortex inhibitory memories
Nura W Lingawi1, Billy Chieng1, R Fred Westbrook1
1School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Elife
|February 10, 2026
Summary
The infralimbic cortex (IL) stores flexible inhibitory memories. Prior experience enables IL stimulation to enhance fear extinction, demonstrating its role in adaptive behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- The infralimbic cortex (IL) is crucial for behavioral inhibition.
- The specific content of inhibitory memories within the IL is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions enabling retrieval and facilitation of inhibitory memories in the IL.
- To explore the flexibility and specificity of IL-mediated inhibitory memory recall.
Main Methods:
- Optogenetic stimulation in female and male rats.
- Examining fear extinction and conditioning paradigms.
- Assessing stimulus-specificity and motivational context independence.
Main Results:
- IL stimulation alone did not facilitate initial fear extinction.
- Prior fear extinction or backward conditioning experience enabled IL stimulation to enhance subsequent fear extinction.
- Facilitation effects were stimulus-specific and independent of motivational context, occurring across different inhibitory procedures.
Conclusions:
- The IL stores highly flexible inhibitory memories.
- These memories can be retrieved and applied across diverse inhibitory tasks and motivational contexts.
- The IL acts as a central hub for flexible application of inhibitory knowledge, supporting adaptive responses.
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