Fear in the theater of the mind: Mental imagery of conditioned stimuli undergo the acquisition and generalization of differential fear conditioning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauryn Burleigh ◽  
Xinrui Jiang ◽  
Steven G Greening
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Differential Conditioning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Conditioned Stimuli ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Theater Of The Mind

Many symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are elicited by mental imagery of a conditioned stimulus (CS). Yet, little is known about how visual imagery of CSs interacts with the acquisition of differential fear conditioning. Across three experiments (n1=33, n2=27, n3=26), we observed that healthy human participants acquired differential fear conditioning to both viewed and imagined percepts serving as the conditioned stimuli as measured via self-reported fear and the skin conductance response (SCR). Additionally, this differential conditioning generalized across CS percept modalities, such that differential conditioning acquired to visual percepts generalized to the corresponding imagined percepts and vice versa. This is novel evidence that perceived and imagined stimuli engage learning processes in very similar ways and is consistent with theory that mental imagery is depictive and recruits neural resources shared with visual perception. Our findings also provide new insight into the mechanisms of anxiety and related disorders.

Translational Research from Animals to Humans

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeru Morinobu ◽  
Shigeto Yamamoto ◽  
Manabu Fuchikami
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Fear Extinction ◽  
Contextual Fear Conditioning ◽  
Behavioral Characteristics ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Contextual Fear ◽  
Glycine Transporter 1 ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Prolonged Stress

To elucidate the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the establishment of an appropriate animal model is necessary. In a series of studies, the authors validated single prolonged stress (SPS) as a model for PTSD. SPS-treated rats mimic the pathophysiological abnormalities and behavioral characteristics of PTSD, such as enhanced anxiety-like behavior, glucocorticoid negative feedback, and analgesia. In addition, the authors demonstrated enhanced freezing in response to contextual fear conditioning, and impaired extinction of fear memory, which was alleviated by D-cycloserine (DCS). In parallel, there was a decrease in extracellular glycine mediated by an increase in glycine transporter 1 in the hippocampus of SPS-treated rats after fear conditioning, which suggested that activation of N-methyl-D-asparate receptor by DCS during fear extinction training might alleviate the impaired fear extinction. This chapter summarizes PTSD-like symptoms in SPS and evaluates the validity of SPS as an animal model of PTSD.

Behavioral Neuroscience of Circuits Involved in Fear Processing

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth P. Bauer ◽  
Denis Paré
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

Normal fear regulation includes the ability to learn by experience that some circumstances predict danger. This process, which can be modeled in the laboratory using Pavlovian fear conditioning, appears to be disrupted in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding of the mechanisms underlying fear learning has progressed tremendously in the last 25 years, and constitutes a promising paradigm to study the neural bases of PTSD. This chapter first reviews current knowledge of the brain structures involved in fear learning, expression and extinction, including the contributions of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. It then addresses how these circuits are affected by PTSD and how fear processing is altered in PTSD. Understanding PTSD within a fear-conditioning and extinction framework provides insight into why certain individuals are susceptible to developing PTSD and suggests potential therapies.

Thermal signature of fear conditioning in mild post traumatic stress disorder

Neuroscience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 266 ◽  
pp. 216-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Di Giacinto ◽  
M. Brunetti ◽  
G. Sepede ◽  
A. Ferretti ◽  
A. Merla
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Thermal Signature

scholarly journals Neuroimaging resilience to trauma: convergent evidence and challenges for future research

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Norbury ◽  
M. Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez ◽  
Adriana Feder
Keyword(s):  
Functional Imaging ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Neuroimaging Study ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
Two Bodies ◽  
Methodological Difficulties

Resilience, or the phenomenon of successful adaptation following significant trauma exposure, is a complex, multidimensional, and dynamic process. To date, research on neural mechanisms involved in human resilience has comprised of two major research streams – involving individuals with childhood and adulthood trauma exposure, respectively. Although there are systematic differences in how both trauma and resilience have been defined across these two bodies of research, some striking regions of convergence emerge when considering the literature as a whole. Here, we review functional imaging studies from across these two research streams, alongside discussion of some of the methodological difficulties involved in quantifying both trauma and resilience in human participants. Due to the broad scope of this literature, we restrict the scope of our narrative to several key domains where studies from across these two bodies of work implicate common neural circuitry. These areas of convergence include brain networks implicated in emotion regulation, responses to rewards, and cognitive control. Further, we briefly review functional imaging evidence related to proposed mechanisms underlying resilient outcomes: namely active coping, cognitive reappraisal and successful fear extinction. Finally, we also touch upon several ongoing issues in neuroimaging study design and analysis that will need to be addressed in order to enable us to harness insight from such studies to improve treatments for – or, ideally, guard against the development of – debilitating post-traumatic stress syndromes.

Eye-Movement Desensitisation

1994 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Vaughan ◽  
M. Wiese ◽  
R. Gold ◽  
N. Tarrier
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movement ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Mind

A novel approach is described for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Eye-movement desensitisation (EMD) requires the patient to generate images of the trauma in the mind and define physiological and emotional arousal states. While concentrating on these states, lateral multisaccardic eye movements are induced. Ten consecutive cases are reported who presented with symptoms originating from a range of traumas. The effectiveness of EMD in reducing symptoms outlined by DSM–III–R is described. An independent rater indicated that eight of the ten cases showed considerable improvement in PTSD symptoms following EMD, which was maintained at follow-up. Particular reference is given to the ‘specificity’ of EMD in treating symptoms and the changing pattern of effect at follow-up.

scholarly journals Sex-specific calibration of memory recall by glucocorticoid receptors on cortical astrocytes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
WW Taylor ◽  
BR Imhoff ◽  
ZS Sathi ◽  
KM Garza ◽  
BG Dias
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptors ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
Cortical Astrocytes ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Female Specific

ABSTRACTDysfunctions in memory recall lead to pathological fear; a hallmark of trauma-related disorders, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Heightened recall of an association between a cue and trauma, as well as impoverished recall that a previously trauma-related cue is no longer a threat both result in a debilitating fear toward the cue. Glucocorticoid-mediated action via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) influences memory recall. This literature has primarily focused on GRs expressed in neurons or ignored cell-type specific contributions. To ask how GR action in non-neuronal cells influences memory recall, we combined auditory fear conditioning in mice and the knockout of GRs in astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in memory recall. We found that GRs in astrocytes in the PFC calibrate recall in female but not male mice. Specifically, we found that knocking out GRs in astrocytes in the PFC of female mice (AstroGRKO) after fear conditioning resulted in higher recall of fear to the CS+ tone when compared to controls (AstroGRintact). While we did not find any differences in extinction of fear toward the CS+ between these groups, AstroGRKO female mice showed impaired recall of extinction training. We did not observe any significant results in male mice. These results suggest a sex-specific calibration of memory recall by GRs in astrocytes in the PFC. These data demonstrate the need to examine GR action in cortical astrocytes to elucidate the basic neurobiology underlying memory recall and potential mechanisms that underlie female-specific biases in the incidence of PTSD.

Electric foot shock stress: a useful tool in neuropsychiatric studies

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 655-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjana Bali ◽  
Amteshwar Singh Jaggi
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Grid Floor ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Fear Potentiated Startle ◽  
Neurochemical Changes ◽  
Anxiety Depression

AbstractElectric foot shock is a complex stressor with both physical and emotional components. It has been employed as an important tool to develop diverse animal models in the field of psychopharmacology. The electric foot shock paradigm includes acute or chronic exposures of shocks of varying intensity and duration on an electrified grid floor in an electric foot shock apparatus. Research evidence reveals that foot shocks of varying intensity produce behavioral and neurochemical changes reflecting depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. Animals generally do not habituate to foot shocks in comparison to other stressors, including loud noise, bright light, and hot and cold temperatures. Additionally, it offers an experimental advantage of control over intensity and duration; therefore, by varying its application parameters, different disorder models have been created. Electric foot shock fear conditioning-induced ultrasonic vocalization and fear-potentiated startle have been explored to develop models of anxiety and panic. Similarly, fear conditioning in the form of foot shock exposure followed by situational reminders has been used to develop a model of PTSD. Electric foot shock-induced conflict has been explored to develop operant conflict models (Geller-Seifter and Vogel tests), which in turn are pharmacologically validated to screen potential anti-anxiety agents. Inescapable electric shock-induced ‘learned helplessness’ mimics the symptomology of depression, and this phenomenon has been employed to develop the model of depression. The present review describes the pharmacologically validated models of anxiety, depression, and PTSD involving electric foot shock as an aversive stimulus.

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