Systems consolidation and fear memory generalisation as a potential target for trauma-related disorders

Abstract

Fear memory generalisation is a central hallmark in the broad range of anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Recent findings suggest that fear generalisation is closely related to hippocampal dependency during retrieval. In this review, we describe the current understanding about memory generalisation and its potential influence in fear attenuation through pharmacological and behavioural interventions. In light of systems consolidation framework, we propose that keeping memory precision could be a key step to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords:

• Fear generalisation
• systems consolidation
• anxiety
• extinction
• hippocampus

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author statement

All authors read and approved the final manuscript. The authors are entirely responsible for the scientific content of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a CNPq Universal-2018 grant to L.d.O.A. Sierra R.O is funded by the Premium Postdoctoral Research Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) - Magyar Tudományos Akadémia.