University of Tasmania
Browse

Timing matters: Transcranial direct current stimulation after extinction learning impairs subsequent fear extinction retention

Version 2 2024-09-18, 23:32
Version 1 2023-05-20, 19:29
journal contribution
posted on 2024-09-18, 23:32 authored by LJ Ney, CM Vicario, MA Nitsche, KL Felmingham

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has previously been shown to improve fear extinction learning and retention when administered prior to or during extinction learning. This study investigates whether tDCS immediately following extinction learning improves efficacy of extinction memory retention.

 

Methods: 30 participants completed a 2-day fear learning and extinction paradigm, where they acquired fear of a stimulus conditioned to an aversive electric shock on day 1. Extinction learning occurred on day 1, with tDCS or sham tDCS administered immediately following the learning phase. Participants returned for a second day test of extinction memory recall. Skin conductance was measured as the primary outcome.

 

Results/Conclusions: Participants in the tDCS group showed impaired fear extinction retention on day 2, marked by significant generalisation of fear to the safety stimulus. This contrasts with earlier studies showing improved extinction retention when stimulation occurred during encoding of extinction learning, compared to immediate consolidation as in our study. These findings may have important implications for the use of tDCS during exposure therapy for anxiety and trauma disorders.

 

History

Publication title

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Volume

177

Pagination

1-8

ISSN

1074-7427

Department/School

Psychology

Publisher

Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science

Publication status

  • Published

Place of publication

525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, USA, Ca, 92101-4495

Rights statement

Copyright 2021 Elsevier Inc.

Socio-economic Objectives

200409 Mental health

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC