Neurobiology of learning and memory
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Neurobiol Learn Mem · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialCortisol enhances neural differentiation during fear acquisition and extinction in contingency aware young women.
Previously, we observed cortisol induced enhancement of neural fear acquisition in women. Yet, less is known about cortisol effects on neural fear extinction. Via differential fear conditioning, we explored cortisol effects on acquisition and extinction. ⋯ During acquisition group differences were due to higher responses to the CS+ than to the CS- in the cortisol group. Notably, during extinction, group differences were due to higher responses to the CS- than to the CS+ in this group. Thus, cortisol induced a fear acquisition and extinction specific enhanced neural differentiation.