Psychiatry and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University (USU), Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Neuropharmacology. 2012 Feb;62(2):638-46. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Jul 19.
Pavlovian fear conditioning, also known as classical fear conditioning is an important model in the study of the neurobiology of normal and pathological fear. Progress in the neurobiology of Pavlovian fear also enhances our understanding of disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and with developing effective treatment strategies. Here we describe how Pavlovian fear conditioning is a key tool for understanding both the neurobiology of fear and the mechanisms underlying variations in fear memory strength observed across different phenotypes. First we discuss how Pavlovian fear models aspects of PTSD. Second, we describe the neural circuits of Pavlovian fear and the molecular mechanisms within these circuits that regulate fear memory. Finally, we show how fear memory strength is heritable; and describe genes which are specifically linked to both changes in Pavlovian fear behavior and to its underlying neural circuitry. These emerging data begin to define the essential genes, cells and circuits that contribute to normal and pathological fear. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.
巴甫洛夫式恐惧条件反射，亦称经典条件恐惧反射，是研究正常和病理性恐惧的神经生物学的重要模型。巴甫洛夫式恐惧的神经生物学研究进展也增进了我们对创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）等障碍的理解，并为开发有效的治疗策略提供了帮助。在这里，我们将描述巴甫洛夫式恐惧条件反射如何成为理解恐惧的神经生物学和不同表型中观察到的恐惧记忆强度变化的机制的关键工具。首先，我们将讨论巴甫洛夫式恐惧模型如何体现 PTSD 的某些方面。其次，我们将描述巴甫洛夫式恐惧的神经回路以及这些回路内调节恐惧记忆的分子机制。最后，我们将展示恐惧记忆强度是可遗传的；并描述与巴甫洛夫式恐惧行为及其潜在神经回路的变化都相关的特定基因。这些新出现的数据开始定义导致正常和病理性恐惧的必需基因、细胞和回路。本文是特刊“创伤后应激障碍”的一部分。
