Unravelling the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying counterconditioning in humans.

ABSTRACT: Counterconditioning (CC) aims to enhance extinction of threat memories by establishing new associations of opposite valence. While its underlying neurocognitive mechanisms remain largely unexplored, previous studies suggest qualitatively different mechanisms from regular extinction. In this functional MRI study, participants underwent categorical threat conditioning (CS+/CS-: images of animals/tools), followed by either CC (CS + images reinforced with monetary rewards, n=24) or regular extinction (n=24). The following day, we assessed spontaneous recovery of threat responses and episodic memory for CS + and CS- category exemplars. While the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) was activated during regular extinction, participants undergoing CC showed persistent CS+-specific deactivation

SUBMITTER: Wirz L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916100 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature