Social modulation of conditioned fear extincion in mice

• Autorzy: Nowak A. , Werka T. , Knapska E.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Fear-eliciting properties of a stimulus acquired through conditioning can be extinguished by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus (CS) in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus. Such extinction process does not reflect unlearning of the original association, but results in a transient inhibition of fear. For example, extinguished fear responses may return after a change in context (i.e., renewal). The return of fear after extinction is a considerable challenge for maintaining long-lasting fear suppression after exposure-based therapies. Until recently, the recovery phenomena were studied only in isolated animals. Social context is an important factor affecting behavior of the animals extensively interacting with their conspecifics, such as humans and mice. In the present study, we examined the influence a conspecific behavior on renewal of extinguished fear. Male C57BL/6 mice were housed in pairs, handled in order to minimize stress caused by the experimenter’s presence, and then separately subjected to cued fear conditioning. Subsequently, one mouse of the pair was subjected to 6 sessions of fear extinction that significantly reduced the conditioned response (freezing) to the CS. Another mouse from the pair was merely exposed to the experimental cage for equivalent amount of time, therefore its freezing to the CS remained high. On the test day, the mice were tested either together or separately. The animals were trained and tested in a two-compartment cage, which was divided by a perforated transparent partition allowing the mice to see, hear and smell their neighbor, but not to contact them physically. We report that exposure to a fearful familiar conspecific results in renewal of conditioned fear in a mouse that was previously subjected to successfull extinction procedure. The animal model presented here can be a useful tool for studying neuronal basis of the social aspects of fear recovery after extinction.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Rocznik: 2011
• Tom: 71
• Numer: S
• Opis fizyczny: p.89-90

Twórcy

autor

Nowak A.

• Laboratory of Defensive Conditioned Reflexes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw, Poland

autor

Werka T.

• Laboratory of Defensive Conditioned Reflexes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw, Poland

autor

Knapska E.

• Laboratory of Defensive Conditioned Reflexes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw, Poland

Uwagi

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