Influence of stress on fear memory processes in an aversive differential conditioning paradigm in humans
Influence of stress on fear memory processes in an aversive differential conditioning paradigm in humans
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DOI：
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.12.018
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发表时间：
2013-07-01
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
de Quervain, Dominique J. -F.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bentz, Dorothee;Michael, Tanja;de Quervain, Dominique J. -F.
人们普遍认为，学习和记忆过程在恐惧症或创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）等焦虑症的发病、表现、维持和治疗中起着重要作用。记忆提取参与焦虑症症状的表达和维持，而记忆消退被认为是焦虑症行为暴露治疗的潜在机制。大量证据表明，压力和应激激素可以减少情绪信息的记忆提取，而它们可以增强消退训练的记忆巩固。在这项研究中，我们的目的是调查压力是否影响这些记忆过程在恐惧条件反射范式在健康的人类受试者。在第1天，通过标准的差异恐惧条件反射程序获得恐惧记忆。在第2天（恐惧习得后24小时），受试者在记忆恢复测试和消退训练前20分钟进行应激性冷压力测试（CPT）或对照条件。在恐惧习得后第3天（48 h）再次测试记忆恢复和消退，研究应激操作可能的延长效应。在第2天，压力组的男性对压力表现出强烈的皮质醇反应，并且表现出比对照组男性更低的无条件刺激（US）预期评级。这种恐惧记忆检索的减少在第3天保持不变。在女性中，她们对压力的皮质醇反应明显小于男性，没有观察到压力对恐惧记忆检索的影响。在灭绝方面没有观察到组间差异。综上所述，本研究提供的证据表明，压力可以减少男性条件恐惧的记忆检索。我们的发现可能有助于理解压力和糖皮质激素对焦虑症恐惧症状的影响，并表明这种影响可能是性别特异性的。(c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd.版权所有。
It is widely assumed that learning and memory processes play an important role in the pathogenesis, expression, maintenance and therapy of anxiety disorders, such as phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Memory retrieval is involved in symptom expression and maintenance of these disorders, while memory extinction is believed to be the underlying mechanism of behavioral exposure therapy of anxiety disorders. There is abundant evidence that stress and stress hormones can reduce memory retrieval of emotional information, whereas they enhance memory consolidation of extinction training. In this study we aimed at investigating if stress affects these memory processes in a fear conditioning paradigm in healthy human subjects. On day 1, fear memory was acquired through a standard differential fear conditioning procedure. On day 2 (24 h after fear acquisition), participants either underwent a stressful cold pressor test (CPT) or a control condition, 20 min before memory retrieval testing and extinction training. Possible prolonged effects of the stress manipulation were investigated on day 3 (48 h after fear acquisition), when memory retrieval and extinction were tested again. On day 2, men in the stress group showed a robust cortisol response to stress and showed lower unconditioned stimulus (US) expectancy ratings than men in the control group. This reduction in fear memory retrieval was maintained on day 3. In women, who showed a significantly smaller cortisol response to stress than men, no stress effects on fear memory retrieval were observed. No group differences were observed with respect to extinction. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that stress can reduce memory retrieval of conditioned fear in men. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of the effects of stress and glucocorticoids on fear symptoms in anxiety disorders and suggest that such effects may be sex-specific. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.