Alterations in fear extinction neural circuitry and fear-related behavior linked to trauma exposure in children.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to childhood trauma is extremely common (>60 %) and is a leading risk factor for fear-based disorders, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. These disorders are characterized by deficits in fear extinction and dysfunction in underlying neural circuitry. Given the strong and pervasive link between childhood trauma and the development of psychopathology, fear extinction may be a key mechanism. The present study tests the impact of childhood trauma exposure on fear extinction and underlying neural circuitry. Children (N = 44, 45 % trauma-exposed; 6-11 yrs) completed a novel two-day virtual reality fear extinction experiment. On day one, participants underwent fear conditioning and extinction. Twenty-four hours later, participants completed a test of extinction recall d

SUBMITTER: Marusak HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7722124 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature