This study addresses the following three questions:1. How do fear memories change over time?2. How is the context of fear coded in the brain?3. How can the process of excessive strengthening of fear memory be disrupted
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Behavioural measures (e.g. memory accuracy and response bias)
Secondary outcome
Salivary levels of cortisol and alpha-amylase
Psychophysiological recordings (pupil dilation, respiration, heart rate, skin
conductance, blood pressure)
Background summary
Evolution has equipped the human brain with a highly adaptive and plastic
defense system. We rapidly acquire fears for cues that are associated with
threat, and such memories are both flexible and enduring. While this system is
undoubtedly critical for survival, fear memories sometimes culminate in
pathological fear. This occurs particularly when fear memories are overly
strengthened and come to be expressed in situations that do not pose a real
threat anymore. While the acquisition of fear memories has been studied in
considerable detail, the neural mechanisms that underlie consolidation and
generalization of fear memories over time remain poorly understood.
Study objective
This study addresses the following three questions:
1. How do fear memories change over time?
2. How is the context of fear coded in the brain?
3. How can the process of excessive strengthening of fear memory be disrupted
Study design
Participants will be tested in mixed (study arm 1) and a within group (study
arm 2 and 3) designs.
Intervention
In study arm 1, half of the subjects will undergo a stress induction protocol
involving highly aversive cinematographic material and (threat of) mild
electrical stimulation to the fingers.
In the study arm 2 and 3 subjects will receive mild electrical stimulation to
the fingers.
Study burden and risks
All procedures in this protocol are well established, and highly tolerable.
Based on extensive previous experience with these procedures (see e.g. CMO
2007-028 (Stress and brain function), CMO 2008-357 (Neural circuits of fear and
anxiety), CMO 2010-257 (Norepinephrine and Extinction), CMO 2010-015
(Gene-environment interactions in the brain), and CMO 2011-382 (Memory & the
MR)), the risk associated with participation can be considered negligible and
the burden can be considered minimal. No pharmacological or otherwise invasive
interventions are applied.
Kapittelweg 29
Nijmegen 6500 HB
NL
Kapittelweg 29
Nijmegen 6500 HB
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
•Healthy volunteers between 18 and 45 years of age (balanced for gender)
•Predominant right-handedness.
Exclusion criteria
• Abnormal hearing or (uncorrected) vision.
• Average use of more than 3 alcoholic beverages daily.
• Average use of psychotropic medication or recreational drugs weekly or more.
• Habitual smoking, i.e. more than a package of cigarettes per week and a self-reported inability or unease to cease smoking for 24 hours prior to testing.
• Use of psychotropic medication, or of recreational drugs over a period of 72 hours prior to each test session, and use of alcohol within the last 24 hours before each measurement.
• Regular use of corticosteroids.
• Metal objects in or around the body (braces, pacemaker, metal fragments, hearing devices).
• History of psychiatric treatment or current psychiatric treatment.
• History of neurological treatment or current neurological treatment.
• History of endocrine treatment or current endocrine treatment.
• History of autonomic failure (e.g., vasovagal reflex syncope).
• Current parodontitis (only in study arm 1).
• Claustrophobia.
• Intense daily physical exercise.
• Irregular sleep/wake rhythm (e.g., regular nightshifts or cross timeline travel).
• BDI score higher than 13.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL47168.091.14 |