Home › Analytical Chem › Disrupting Reconsolidation of Fear Memory in Humans by a Noradrenergic β-Blocker
Analytical Chem JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Disrupting Reconsolidation of Fear Memory in Humans by a Noradrenergic β-Blocker

DOI: 10.3791/52151-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Understand fear conditioning and reconsolidation mechanisms in human subjects
  • ✓ Apply propranolol administration to disrupt fear memory reconsolidation
  • ✓ Measure fear responses using startle potentiation and electrophysiological methods
  • ✓ Interpret behavioral data showing fear memory extinction post-intervention
Protocol

Disrupting reconsolidation is a promising approach to dampen the behavioral expression of fear memory in patients with anxiety disorders or posttraumatic stress disorder. In a series of human fear conditioning studies we showed that disrupting reconsolidation by the noradrenergic β-blocker propranolol is very effective in erasing conditioned fear responding.

Difficulty
advanced
Total time
~3 days (across three experimental sessions: conditioning, reactivation+drug, testing)

Steps

1
Install fear-potentiated startle and shock electrodes

Set up electromyography sensors to measure startle eyeblink responses and calibrate electric shock delivery electrodes on human participants. This apparatus quantifies fear-conditioned physiological reactions.

▶ 00:59
2
Conduct fear acquisition on day one

Present conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with unconditioned shock stimulus (US) to establish fear memory in human subjects. Measure baseline and conditioned startle potentiation.

▶ 03:03
3
Reactivate fear memory on day two

Present CS without shock to reactivate consolidated fear memory and trigger reconsolidation window. Administer propranolol (or placebo control) during this labile memory phase.

▶ 04:27
4
Test fear extinction on day three

Measure conditioned startle response to CS presentations without shock to assess whether propranolol treatment reduced fear memory expression compared to control.

▶ 05:59
5
Analyze disrupted fear memory after propranolol

Quantify startle potentiation differences between propranolol and control groups, demonstrating successful reconsolidation disruption and fear memory dampening.

▶ 07:20
💬 Comments coming soon