Abstract
Exposure to smoking-related stimuli may induce the reconsolidation of smoking-related memories in smokers. Research has proposed that extinction applied after the retrieval of a smoking memory may inhibit reconsolidation and prevent craving. The aim of this study was to test the effect of postretrieval extinction (PRE) on the reconsolidation of smoking memory by using a virtual reality (VR) simulation in smokers. On the day 1 session, the study exposed 46 smokers to a neutral and then to a smoking VR scenario under a fixed-block protocol. On day 2, the study randomized participants into three groups (G) and exposed them to a 15-s VR immersion in smoking (G1, G3) or neutral (G2) scenario for memory retrieval. After 15 min, the study exposed G1 and G2 to a VR PRE during the temporal window of memory vulnerability, whereas the study exposed G3 to extinction immediately after retrieval. On day 3, the study exposed all groups to neutral and smoking scenarios similar to day 1. All groups significantly increased craving for cigarettes after exposure to the smoking scenario on day 1 (p < 0.01). On day 3, VR PRE after a 15-second VR smoking memory retrieval was able to inhibit reconsolidation in G1, but not in G3 exposed to PRE before the window of vulnerability, or in G2 not exposed to the smoking memory retrieval. These findings show the superiority of VR PRE after smoking memory retrieval compared to a standard extinction procedure.
Highlights
Events, stimuli, and contexts associated with emotional and moti vational values are stored in memory as information that modulates conditioned responses
All groups showed a significant increase of craving at the end of the first day training session after exposure to a 3-min virtual reality (VR) smoking scenario compared to score values assessed after the 3-min exposure to VR neutral scenario
The VR exposure to postretrieval extinction (PRE) after a 15-second smoking memory retrieval was able to inhibit the reconsolidation of smoking memory in healthy smokers on test day in G1 but not in the group exposed to PRE before the onset of the temporal window of memory vulnerability (G3) and in the group not exposed to the smoking memory retrieval (G2; neutral sce nario retrieval)
Summary
Stimuli, and contexts associated with emotional and moti vational values are stored in memory as information that modulates conditioned responses. Conditioned memory could be modified by extinction or exposure therapy, which may reduce the conditioned response (Bouton & Bolles, 1979; Pavlov, 1927). Exposure therapy is effective in the short-term and does not modify the original memory trace (Bouton, 1993; Milad & Quirk, 2002). Research has hypothesized (Misanin et al, 1968; Nader et al, 2000) that previously consolidated memories may be reactivated and undergo a labile period termed reconsolidation. The reconsolidation period begins when the memory is rendered labile by presenting previously associated conditioned stimuli and/or context. Retrieved memory could be inhibited with pharmacological and behavioral manipulations (Alberini, 2005; Monfils et al, 2009; Przybyslawski et al, 1999; Riccio et al, 2009), suggesting potential therapies for disorders based on maladap tive memory such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sub stance use disorder (SUD) (Chiamulera et al, 2014; Dunbar & Taylor, 2017; Milton & Everitt, 2012; Torregrossa & Taylor, 2016)
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