Stress hormone effects on contextualized extinction memories (A09)

• Subject Area: Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316803389

Stress hormones timing-dependently modulate the strength and context-dependency of extinction memories. Novel strategies are needed that strengthen the long-term expression of extinction memories and reduce the return of fear. Our studies compare the effects of psychosocial stress vs. physical exercise on extinction. We additionally investigate the effects of cortisol on the return of fear and its possible modulation by timing and context. The project will enhance our mechanistic understanding of the modulation of extinction memories by stress hormones, which is relevant for basic science and clinical applications alike.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1280: Extinction Learning
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Project Heads: Dr. Valerie Lena Jentsch, since 7/2021; Professor Dr. Christian Josef Merz; Professor Dr. Oliver Tobias Wolf