Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear
Top Cited Papers
- 15 February 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Nature Neuroscience
- Vol. 12 (3) , 256-258
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2271
Abstract
Animal studies have shown that fear memories can change when recalled, a process referred to as reconsolidation. We found that oral administration of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol before memory reactivation in humans erased the behavioral expression of the fear memory 24 h later and prevented the return of fear. Disrupting the reconsolidation of fear memory opens up new avenues for providing a long-term cure for patients with emotional disorders.Keywords
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