Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Nobels väg 11, Solna, Sweden; University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
University of Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Behav Res Ther. 2017 May;92:87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2017.02.004. Epub 2017 Feb 22.
Previous studies have suggested that fear memories can be updated when recalled, a process referred to as reconsolidation. Given the beneficial effects of model-based safety learning (i.e. vicarious extinction) in preventing the recovery of short-term fear memory, we examined whether consolidated long-term fear memories could be updated with safety learning accomplished through vicarious extinction learning initiated within the reconsolidation time-window. We assessed this in a final sample of 19 participants that underwent a three-day within-subject fear-conditioning design, using fear-potentiated startle as our primary index of fear learning.
On day 1, two fear-relevant stimuli (reinforced CSs) were paired with shock (US) and a third stimulus served as a control (CS). On day 2, one of the two previously reinforced stimuli (the reminded CS) was presented once in order to reactivate the fear memory 10 min before vicarious extinction training was initiated for all CSs. The recovery of the fear memory was tested 24 h later.
Vicarious extinction training conducted within the reconsolidation time window specifically prevented the recovery of the reactivated fear memory (p = 0.03), while leaving fear-potentiated startle responses to the non-reactivated cue intact (p = 0.62). These findings are relevant to both basic and clinical research, suggesting that a safe, non-invasive model-based exposure technique has the potential to enhance the efficiency and durability of anxiolytic therapies.
先前的研究表明，恐惧记忆在被回忆时可以被更新，这个过程被称为再巩固。鉴于基于模型的安全学习（即间接消退）在防止短期恐惧记忆恢复方面的有益效果，我们研究了是否可以通过在再巩固时间窗内启动的间接消退学习来更新巩固的长期恐惧记忆。我们在一个由 19 名参与者组成的最终样本中评估了这一点，该样本采用了为期三天的单被试恐惧条件设计，使用恐惧增强的startle 作为恐惧学习的主要指标。
在第 1 天，两个与恐惧相关的刺激（强化 CS）与电击（US）配对，第三个刺激作为对照（CS）。在第 2 天，为了在所有 CS 的间接消退训练开始前 10 分钟重新激活恐惧记忆，曾经呈现过的两个先前强化刺激之一（提醒 CS）被呈现一次。24 小时后测试恐惧记忆的恢复情况。
在再巩固时间窗内进行的间接消退训练特别阻止了重新激活的恐惧记忆的恢复（p=0.03），同时对非重新激活的线索的恐惧增强 startle 反应保持不变（p=0.62）。这些发现与基础和临床研究都相关，表明一种安全、非侵入性的基于模型的暴露技术有可能提高抗焦虑疗法的效率和持久性。
