A comparison of behavioral and pharmacological interventions to attenuate reactivated fear memories

FERRER MONTI, ROQUE I.; ALFEI, JOAQUÍN M.; MUGNAINI, MATÍAS; BUENO, ADRIÁN M.; BECKERS, TOM; URCELAY, GONZALO P.; MOLINA, VICTOR A.

Learning & Memory

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Año: 2017 vol. 24 p. 369 - 374

Two experiments using rats in a contextual fear memory preparation compared two approaches to reduce conditioned fear:(1) pharmacological reconsolidation blockade and (2) reactivation-plus-extinction training. In Experiment 1, we exploreddifferent combinations of reactivation-plus-extinction parameters to reduce conditioned fear and attenuate reacquisition.In Experiment 2, memory reactivation was followed by extinction training or administration of midazolam (MDZ)(vs. vehicle) to reduce conditioned fear and attenuate spontaneous recovery. We found both treatments to be equallyeffective in both experiments. This study suggests that parameters leading to memory destabilization during reactivationare critical to observe long-lasting effects of MDZ or reactivation plus extinction.