Human fear conditioning: From neuroscience to the clinic

M.A. Fullana*, J.E. Dunsmoor, K.R.J. Schruers, H.S. Savage, D.R. Bach, B.J. Harrison

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Both clinicians and neuroscientists have been long interested in the topic of fear conditioning, with recent advances in neuroscience, in particular, igniting a shared interest in further translation between these domains. Here, we review some historical aspects of this relationship and the progress that has been made in translating the neuroscientific study of fear conditioning to the conceptualization and treatment of mental disorders, especially anxiety-related disorders. We also address some conceptual and methodological challenges faced by this research, and offer some suggestions to support future progress in the field.
Original languageEnglish
Article number103528
Number of pages8
JournalBehaviour Research and Therapy
Volume124
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • behavior-therapy
  • brain
  • controlled-trial
  • d-cycloserine
  • exposure therapy
  • extinction
  • fear conditioning
  • memory reconsolidation
  • neuroscience
  • posttraumatic-stress-disorder
  • protein-synthesis
  • BEHAVIOR-THERAPY
  • POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER
  • CONTROLLED-TRIAL
  • D-CYCLOSERINE
  • EXPOSURE THERAPY
  • Neuroscience
  • Anxiety
  • MEMORY RECONSOLIDATION
  • BRAIN
  • ANXIETY
  • PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS
  • Fear conditioning
  • EXTINCTION

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