Augmenting extinction learning with D-cycloserine reduces return of fear: a randomized, placebo-controlled fMRI study.

ABSTRACT: D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial NMDA-receptor agonist, seems to be a promising enhancer for exposure therapy in anxiety disorders. It has been tested successfully in animal models of fear extinction, where DCS enhanced extinction learning. Applied in clinical studies, results of DCS-augmented exposure therapy remain ambiguous, calling for a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of DCS and its exact effect on extinction learning and return of fear (ROF) in humans. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DCS-augmented extinction learning on behavioral, psychophysiological, and neural indices of ROF during a 24-h delayed recall test. Thirty-seven participants entered a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 3-day fear conditioning and delayed extinction fMRI desi

SUBMITTER: Ebrahimi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6969173 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature