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Noradrenergic Signaling in the Amygdala Contributes to the Reconsolidation of Fear Memory
Author(s) -
DȨBIEC JACEK,
LeDOUX JOSEPH E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1364.056
Subject(s) - amygdala , memory consolidation , fear processing in the brain , psychology , blockade , fear conditioning , traumatic memories , neuroscience , cognitive psychology , hippocampus , medicine , receptor
Intrusive memories resulting from an emotional trauma are a defining feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Existing studies demonstrate that an increase of noradrenergic activity during a life‐threatening event contributes to strengthening or “overconsolidation” of the memory for trauma. The lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) is critical for fear learning. Using classical fear conditioning in rats, we have recently demonstrated that noradrenergic blockade in the LA following reactivation of fear memory by retrieval disrupts memory reconsolidation and lastingly impairs fear memory. This suggests that noradrenergic blockade may be useful in attenuating traumatic memories, even well‐consolidated old memories, in PTSD.