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Between an ugly truth and a perfect lie: Wiping off fearful memories using beta‐adrenergic receptors antagonists
Author(s) -
AlOkda Abdelrahman M.,
Nasr Mostafa M.,
Amin Shaimaa N.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.27441
Subject(s) - phobias , memory consolidation , propranolol , anxiety , adrenergic receptor , psychology , beta (programming language) , traumatic memories , psychotherapist , receptor , neuroscience , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , computer science , hippocampus , programming language
Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, phobias, and post‐traumatic stress disorder are considered of high global prevalence. Currently, a therapeutic approach to treat these disorders using beta‐blockers, which antagonize the beta‐adrenergic receptors (B1, B2, and B3) is being studied. This approach claims that beta‐blockers, such as propranolol, inhibit fear memory reconsolidation. However, there are several studies refuting such claims by discrediting their experimental design and pointing out both the drugs pharmacokinetic properties and confounding factors. In this review, we explore the different effects of central beta‐adrenergic agonists and antagonists on the fear memory consolidation providing mixed‐evidence, limitations, and future directions.