The role of sleep and sleep deprivation in consolidating fear memories

M. M. Menz; J. S. Rihm; N. Salari; J. Born; R. Kalisch; H. C. Pape; L. Marshall; C. Büchel

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.001

The role of sleep and sleep deprivation in consolidating fear memories

M. M. Menz^*, J. S. Rihm, N. Salari, J. Born, R. Kalisch, H. C. Pape, L. Marshall, C. Büchel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

137 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sleep, in particular REM sleep, has been shown to improve the consolidation of emotional memories. Here, we investigated the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on the consolidation of fear memories and underlying neuronal mechanisms. We employed a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm either followed by a night of polysomnographically monitored sleep, or wakefulness in forty healthy participants. Recall of learned fear was better after sleep, as indicated by stronger explicitly perceived anxiety and autonomous nervous responses. These effects were positively correlated with the preceding time spent in REM sleep and paralleled by activation of the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest REM sleep-associated consolidation of fear memory in the human amygdala. In view of the critical participation of fear learning mechanisms in the etiology of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, deprivation of REM sleep after exposure to distressing events is an interesting target for further investigation.

Original language	English
Journal	NeuroImage
Volume	75
Pages (from-to)	87-96
Number of pages	10
ISSN	1053-8119
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.001
Publication status	Published - 05.07.2013

Funding

The authors would like to thank Katrin Müller, Kathrin Wendt, and Timo Krämer for their support in acquiring the MRI data and Jürgen Finsterbusch for setting up the fMRI protocol. We would also like to thank Falk Eippert for his instructions on electrical stimulation and evaluation of skin conductance responses and Alexander Heitmann for his assistance during the wake nights. MMM thanks the Zonta-Club Hamburg-Alster for their support. The study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG ( SFB 654 , project A12 to LM and CB; SFB-TRR 58 , project A03 to HCP, B03 to CB; Emmy Noether grant KA 1623/3-1 to RK), and a Max Planck-Research Award (to HCP).

Research Areas and Centers

Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.03.001

Cite this

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title = "The role of sleep and sleep deprivation in consolidating fear memories",

abstract = "Sleep, in particular REM sleep, has been shown to improve the consolidation of emotional memories. Here, we investigated the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on the consolidation of fear memories and underlying neuronal mechanisms. We employed a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm either followed by a night of polysomnographically monitored sleep, or wakefulness in forty healthy participants. Recall of learned fear was better after sleep, as indicated by stronger explicitly perceived anxiety and autonomous nervous responses. These effects were positively correlated with the preceding time spent in REM sleep and paralleled by activation of the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest REM sleep-associated consolidation of fear memory in the human amygdala. In view of the critical participation of fear learning mechanisms in the etiology of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, deprivation of REM sleep after exposure to distressing events is an interesting target for further investigation.",

author = "Menz, \{M. M.\} and Rihm, \{J. S.\} and N. Salari and J. Born and R. Kalisch and Pape, \{H. C.\} and L. Marshall and C. B{\"u}chel",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Katrin M{\"u}ller, Kathrin Wendt, and Timo Kr{\"a}mer for their support in acquiring the MRI data and J{\"u}rgen Finsterbusch for setting up the fMRI protocol. We would also like to thank Falk Eippert for his instructions on electrical stimulation and evaluation of skin conductance responses and Alexander Heitmann for his assistance during the wake nights. MMM thanks the Zonta-Club Hamburg-Alster for their support. The study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG ( SFB 654 , project A12 to LM and CB; SFB-TRR 58 , project A03 to HCP, B03 to CB; Emmy Noether grant KA 1623/3-1 to RK), and a Max Planck-Research Award (to HCP). ",

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AU - Menz, M. M.

AU - Rihm, J. S.

AU - Salari, N.

AU - Born, J.

AU - Kalisch, R.

AU - Pape, H. C.

AU - Marshall, L.

AU - Büchel, C.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Katrin Müller, Kathrin Wendt, and Timo Krämer for their support in acquiring the MRI data and Jürgen Finsterbusch for setting up the fMRI protocol. We would also like to thank Falk Eippert for his instructions on electrical stimulation and evaluation of skin conductance responses and Alexander Heitmann for his assistance during the wake nights. MMM thanks the Zonta-Club Hamburg-Alster for their support. The study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG ( SFB 654 , project A12 to LM and CB; SFB-TRR 58 , project A03 to HCP, B03 to CB; Emmy Noether grant KA 1623/3-1 to RK), and a Max Planck-Research Award (to HCP).

PY - 2013/7/5

Y1 - 2013/7/5

N2 - Sleep, in particular REM sleep, has been shown to improve the consolidation of emotional memories. Here, we investigated the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on the consolidation of fear memories and underlying neuronal mechanisms. We employed a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm either followed by a night of polysomnographically monitored sleep, or wakefulness in forty healthy participants. Recall of learned fear was better after sleep, as indicated by stronger explicitly perceived anxiety and autonomous nervous responses. These effects were positively correlated with the preceding time spent in REM sleep and paralleled by activation of the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest REM sleep-associated consolidation of fear memory in the human amygdala. In view of the critical participation of fear learning mechanisms in the etiology of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, deprivation of REM sleep after exposure to distressing events is an interesting target for further investigation.

AB - Sleep, in particular REM sleep, has been shown to improve the consolidation of emotional memories. Here, we investigated the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on the consolidation of fear memories and underlying neuronal mechanisms. We employed a Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm either followed by a night of polysomnographically monitored sleep, or wakefulness in forty healthy participants. Recall of learned fear was better after sleep, as indicated by stronger explicitly perceived anxiety and autonomous nervous responses. These effects were positively correlated with the preceding time spent in REM sleep and paralleled by activation of the basolateral amygdala. These findings suggest REM sleep-associated consolidation of fear memory in the human amygdala. In view of the critical participation of fear learning mechanisms in the etiology of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, deprivation of REM sleep after exposure to distressing events is an interesting target for further investigation.

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VL - 75

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JO - NeuroImage

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ER -

The role of sleep and sleep deprivation in consolidating fear memories

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

UN SDGs

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CRC 654: Plasticity and Sleep

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The role of sleep and sleep deprivation in consolidating fear memories

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CRC 654: Plasticity and Sleep

Cite this