Changes in fear memories during adolescence

Highly conserved neural pathways in rodents and humans have allowed for in-depth characterization of behavioral and molecular processes associated with emotional learning and memory. Despite increased prevalence of affective disorders in adolescent humans, few studies have characterized how associative-emotional learning changes during the transition through adolescence or identified mechanisms underlying such changes. By examining fear conditioning in mice, Pattwell and colleagues have found that a suppression of contextual fear occurs during adolescence. This temporary suppression of contextual fear was associated with blunted synaptic activity in the basal amygdala and a decrease in specific signaling pathways in the hippocampus. These findings may prove informative for understanding endogenous mechanisms that suppress unwanted fear memories.

Pattwell SS et al., Selective early-acquired fear memories undergo temporary suppression during adolescence. Published online before print January 10, 2011, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1012975108 PNAS January 10, 2011.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21220344