The Limits of Reconsolidation: Understanding the Nature and Boundaries of Fear Memory Reconsolidation Using the Reactivation-Extinction Paradigm

重新巩固的局限性：使用重新激活-消退范式了解恐惧记忆重新巩固的本质和界限

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-05379
• 负责人: Ashbaugh, Andrea
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=613515
• 关键词: Limits; Reconsolidation; Understanding; Nature; Boundaries

In the past decade, there has been a large shift in our understanding of how memory works.  The former notion of memory as a relatively static entity has gradually been replaced with the notion of memory as a dynamic process.  This shift has occurred largely because of animal research demonstrating that when fearful memories are reactivated they may enter a labile period during which they can be updated.  There has been some research on the reconsolidation of fear memories in humans, but this research is limited.  Many of the pharmaceuticals used to block reconsolidation in animal research are unsafe for humans. Recent innovations have resulted in safe non-pharmaceutical methods of studying reconsolidation.  These methods more accurately reflect how reconsolidation might occur in the natural world. The aim of my research is to extend our understanding of the reconsolidation of fear memories in humans using these new methods. Objective one will examine the boundary conditions of reconsolidation in humans.  A series of six studies will explore how the age and strength of the original memory, as well as the timing and strength of reactivation influences whether a fear memory will be updated.  I will also examine whether a tendency to report being highly fearful influences the likelihood of fear memories updating.  This series of studies will help us to understand how fear memory reconsolidation works in humans.  Objective two will extend our understanding of the role of reconsolidation in memory and cognition in general.  Most research has inferred that reconsolidation has occurred by observing the absence of fear memory often one day after reconsolidation has occurred. If the function of reconsolidation is to update the memory then other types of information may be incorporated, such as new details pertaining to the content of the memory.  Two studies will explore whether fear memories can be updated rather than simply being eliminated. Such knowledge will ultimately enable the development of translational research investigating how reconsolidation could be used to reduce rates of relapse in the treatment of fear-based disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.   Results from my program of research will contribute to a growing body of basic research on learning and memory reconsolidation in humans and help us to understand why and how reconsolidation occurs.

在过去的十年里， 改变了我们对记忆的理解 以前认为记忆是一个相对静态的实体， 被记忆作为一个动态过程的概念所取代。这种转变的发生主要是因为 动物研究表明，当恐惧的记忆被重新激活时， 可能会进入一个不稳定的时期，在此期间，他们可以更新。 但是这项研究是有限的。许多用来阻断恐惧记忆的药物， 动物研究中的重新整合对人类是不安全的。最近的创新 已经产生了研究再巩固的安全非药物方法。这些方法更准确地反映了如何 在自然界中可能会发生再固结。我研究的目的是 扩展了我们对人类恐惧记忆重新巩固的理解 使用这些新方法。第一个目标是检查 在人类中重新整合。一系列的六个 研究将探讨原始记忆的年龄和强度，以及 因为恐惧记忆重新激活的时间和强度会影响恐惧记忆是否会 更新。我也会研究是否 报告高度恐惧的倾向会影响恐惧的可能性 记忆更新。这一系列的 研究将帮助我们了解恐惧记忆重新巩固是如何工作的 目标二将扩展我们的 理解再巩固在记忆和认知中的作用。大多数研究推断， 通过观察恐惧记忆的缺失， 再次合并后的第二天。如果重新整合的功能是 为了更新存储器，则可以结合其它类型的信息，例如 作为与记忆内容有关的新细节。两项研究将探讨恐惧是否 记忆可以被更新，而不是简单地被消除。这种知识 将最终使转化研究的发展， 如何使用再巩固来降低治疗中的复发率 创伤后应激障碍和焦虑症 紊乱 结果从我的程序 研究将有助于越来越多的关于学习的基础研究， 帮助我们理解为什么以及如何 重新整合发生。