Testing for causality of fear extinction: networks, plasticity, and beyond (A06)

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

In this project, we will explore by aid on non-invasive brain stimulation, and MRI, in which way neuroplastivity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which is crucial for extinction learning, affects the larger extinction network, including interactions with the amygdala, hippocampus, other prefrontal areas, and the cerebellum. In another study we will explore if extinction protocols which are expected to induce late phase plasticity enhance the efficacy of extinction learning. Finally, we will explore the physiological foundation of the impact of context, and avoidance behavior on extinction by aid of non-invasive brain stimulation protocols.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1280: Extinction Learning
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Michael A. Nitsche; Dr. Diane Ruge, Ph.D., until 6/2021; Dr. Fatemeh Yavari, Ph.D., since 7/2021