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Brain activation during fear conditioning in humans depends on genetic variations related to functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: first evidence from two independent subsamples.
- Source :
-
Psychological Medicine . Nov2012, Vol. 42 Issue 11, p2325-2335. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Background. Enhanced acquisition and delayed extinction of fear conditioning are viewed as major determinants of anxiety disorders, which are often characterized by a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Method. In this study we employed cued fear conditioning in two independent samples of healthy subjects (sample 1: n = 60, sample 2: n = 52). Two graphical shapes served as conditioned stimuli and painful electrical stimulation as the unconditioned stimulus. In addition, guided by findings from published animal studies on HPA axis-related genes in fear conditioning, we examined variants of the glucocorticoid receptor and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 genes. Results. Variation in these genes showed enhanced amygdala activation during the acquisition and reduced prefrontal activation during the extinction of fear as well as altered amygdala-prefrontal connectivity. Conclusions. This is the first demonstration of the involvement of genes related to the HPA axis in human fear conditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *ADRENAL gland physiology
*HYPOTHALAMUS physiology
*PITUITARY gland physiology
*DNA analysis
*ANXIETY
*CONDITIONED response
*FEAR
*GENETICS
*LONGITUDINAL method
*QUESTIONNAIRES
*RESEARCH funding
*SCALES (Weighing instruments)
*STATE-Trait Anxiety Inventory
*STATISTICAL models
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00332917
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Psychological Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 83243553
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712000359