Stress disrupts the reconsolidation of fear memories in men

Abstract

Reconsolidation is a post-retrieval process of restabilization of the memory trace. Previous findings from our group suggest that cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone secreted in response to stress, enhances the reconsolidation of fear memories in healthy men. Cortisol effect was found to be very specific, enhancing only the fear memory that was reactivated (i.e. retrieved), but not the non-reactivated memory. In the current study we aimed to investigate the effects of psychosocial stress, a more ecologically valid intervention, on fear memory reconsolidation in men. Using a similar design, we expected stress induction to have comparable effects to those of cortisol intake. During the three testing days, the participants went through (1) fear acquisition, (2) stress induction and memory reactivation (or the corresponding control conditions), (3) fear extinction, reinstatement and reinstatement test. Salivary cortisol, blood pressure measures and subjective ratings confirmed the success of the stress induction. Skin conductance response, serving as a measure of conditioned fear, confirmed acquisition, fear retrieval, and extinction in all groups. In the three control groups (where either reactivation, stress, or both components were missing) reinstatement effects were seen as expected. Yet in contrast to the hypothesis, the target group (i.e. combining reactivation and stress) showed no reinstatement to any of the stimuli. Stress induction is thus suggested to have a general impairing effect on the reconsolidation of fear memories. The unique characteristic of the stress response and experience compared to a pharmacological intervention are proposed as possible explanations to the findings. This disruptive effect of stress on fear memory reconsolidation may have potential therapeutic implications.