Memory Reactivation Triggers Distinct Short-Term and Long-Term Fear Amnesia Mechanisms in Healthy Humans

Conceitos essenciais

Memory reactivation triggers distinct short-term and long-term fear amnesia mechanisms, which are dissociable from the amnesia related to memory reconsolidation.

Resumo

The study investigated the effects of memory reactivation on fear memory in healthy human participants across three experiments.

Study 1 (N=57):

• Memory reactivation prevented the return of fear shortly after extinction training, in contrast to the memory reconsolidation effect which takes several hours to emerge.
• This short-term fear amnesia was cue-independent.

Study 2 (N=79):

• Memory reactivation also triggered fear memory reconsolidation and produced cue-specific amnesia at a longer and separable timescale.

Study 3 (N=75):

• Continuous theta-burst stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed that both memory retrieval and intact prefrontal cortex functions were necessary for the short-term fear amnesia.

The findings suggest that memory retrieval and extinction training trigger distinct underlying memory update mechanisms, raising the possibility of concerted memory modulation processes related to memory retrieval. This sheds light on potential clinical applications for treating persistent maladaptive memories.

Estatísticas

Memory reactivation prevented the return of fear shortly after extinction training.
Memory reactivation triggered fear memory reconsolidation and produced cue-specific amnesia at a longer timescale.
Intact dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functions were necessary for the short-term fear amnesia.

Citações

"Memory reactivation renders consolidated memory fragile and preludes memory reconsolidation."
"The temporal scale and cue-specificity results of the short-term fear amnesia are clearly dissociable from the amnesia related to memory reconsolidation."

Principais Insights Extraídos De

Dissociable memory modulation mechanisms facilitate fear amnesia at different timescales

by Wang,Y., Ni,... às www.biorxiv.org 04-20-2024

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.16.589786v1

Perguntas Mais Profundas

How do the distinct memory modulation mechanisms identified in this study interact and influence each other over time?

The study highlights two distinct memory modulation mechanisms: short-term fear amnesia triggered by memory reactivation and long-term cue-specific amnesia related to memory reconsolidation. These mechanisms interact in a sequential manner over time. Memory reactivation induces short-term fear amnesia, preventing the return of fear shortly after extinction training. This effect is cue-independent and occurs rapidly. On the other hand, memory reactivation also initiates fear memory reconsolidation, leading to cue-specific amnesia at a longer timescale. The short-term fear amnesia effect precedes the cue-specific amnesia associated with memory reconsolidation, indicating a temporal hierarchy in memory modulation processes. The findings suggest that memory retrieval and extinction training engage distinct memory update mechanisms that operate at different timescales, influencing each other's outcomes in memory processing.

What are the potential limitations or boundary conditions of the short-term fear amnesia effect observed in this study?

While the study provides valuable insights into short-term fear amnesia, several limitations and boundary conditions should be considered. One limitation is the generalizability of the findings to diverse populations, as the experiments were conducted with healthy human participants. The effects observed may differ in individuals with memory disorders or psychiatric conditions. Additionally, the study focused on fear memory, and it remains unclear whether similar mechanisms apply to other types of memories. Another limitation is the reliance on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, which may have variable effects across individuals. Furthermore, the short-term fear amnesia effect may be influenced by factors such as the strength of the fear memory, individual differences in memory consolidation, or the emotional valence of the memory. Understanding these limitations is crucial for interpreting the results and applying them to real-world contexts.

How might the insights from this research on memory modulation be leveraged to develop more effective interventions for treating persistent maladaptive memories in clinical settings?

The insights from this research on memory modulation offer promising avenues for developing more effective interventions for treating persistent maladaptive memories in clinical settings. By understanding the distinct mechanisms involved in memory retrieval and reconsolidation, clinicians can tailor interventions to target specific memory processes. For instance, interventions that capitalize on the short-term fear amnesia effect could be used to disrupt maladaptive memories shortly after retrieval, preventing their reconsolidation and promoting extinction. Techniques such as brain stimulation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or pharmacological interventions could be employed to modulate memory processes and promote adaptive memory updating. Moreover, the findings suggest that a combination of memory retrieval and extinction training may lead to more robust and lasting changes in maladaptive memories. By leveraging these insights, clinicians can develop targeted and personalized interventions to effectively treat persistent maladaptive memories and related psychiatric conditions.