The effect of retrieval exposure duration on the reconsolidation and extinction of fear memory

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2024.01076

Abstract

Abstract:

The retrieval-extinction paradigm based on memory reconsolidation shares significant similarities with the traditional extinction paradigm in terms of operational procedures. Minor adjustments in the retrieval phase may prevent memory from entering reconsolidation, thereby losing the effect of sustained suppression of fear relapse. Studies have found that the duration of retrieval exposure can regulate the memory entering different stages, and its mechanism is related to the prediction error induced by retrieval. This study modifies the retrieval-extinction paradigm based on the traditional extinction paradigm by controlling the number of retrieval trials to change the retrieval exposure duration. It aims to explore the regulatory role of retrieval exposure duration on memory reconsolidation and extinction, and attempts to elucidate its mechanism by quantifying prediction error. The results showed that single-retrieval extinction group triggers memory reconsolidation and updating, double-retrieval extinction group is ineffective (results consistent with traditional extinction group), and Quadruple-retrieval extinction group enhances extinction memory strength. The quantified prediction error results supported these process differences. These findings are conducive to further revealing the regulatory factors of human fear memory reconsolidation and extinction.

Key words: exposure duration, traditional extinction paradigm, retrieval extinction paradigm, prediction errors

CHEN Wei, YAO Lin, NI Xiaobing, LI Junjiao, WU Ziyou, ZHENG Xifu. (2024). The effect of retrieval exposure duration on the reconsolidation and extinction of fear memory. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 56(8), 1076-1090.

Figures/Tables 11

Table 1 Group information and questionnaire data of the participants

variables	Group				F or χ²	p
variables	E (n = 23)	R1 (n = 23)	R2 (n = 21)	R4 (n = 20)	F or χ²	p
Number of male (proportion)	6 (26.09%)	9 (39.13%)	5 (23.81%)	4 (20.00%)	2.29	0.515
Age	20.35 ± 4.24	21.43 ± 3.98	19.95 ± 4.16	21.70 ± 4.85	0.04	0.990
STAI-T	43.04 ± 8.98	42.87 ± 7.96	39.76 ± 8.29	43.00 ± 9.62	0.03	0.992
BDI	4.30 ± 0.90	5.52 ± 1.03	6.81 ± 1.42	6.95 ± 1.55	1.03	0.382
Shock intensity	54.96 ± 11.46	50.30 ± 9.34	55.38 ± 11.55	44.25 ± 9.89	0.23	0.877

Figure 1. Experimental material.

Figure 2. Flow chart of stimulation and electric shock presentation.

Figure 3. Overall experimental flow chart.

Figure 4. Four groups of participants in the fear memory acquisition, reactivation, extinction, spontaneous and reinstatement phase of the skin conductance response.
Note. E: The x axis represents the trials; Error bar stands for standard error.

Figure 5. Comparison of extinction after retrieval in each group
Note. E: Traditional extinction group, R1: Single-retrieval extinction group, R2: Double-retrieval extinction group, R4: Quadruple-retrieval extinction group. *p < 0.05.

Figure 6. Comparison of spontaneous recovery of fear memory in each group.
Note. E: Traditional extinction group, R1: Single-retrieval extinction group, R2: Double-retrieval extinction group, R4: Quadruple-retrieval extinction group. Spontaneous recovery index = spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value - extinction of the last trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01

Figure 7. Comparison of reinstatement test of fear memory in each group.
Note. E: Traditional extinction group, R1: Single-retrieval extinction group, R2: Double-retrieval extinction group, R4: Quadruple-retrieval extinction group. Fear reinstatement index = reinstatement of the first trial of SCR value - spontaneous recovery of the first trial of SCR value (Schiller et al., 2010). *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001

Figure 8. The subjective expected value and the fitting expected value of the acquisition and retrieval-extinction phase in each group.
Note. The red dotted line is the expected value of the subject's subjective assessment, and the black solid line is the expected value of the reinforcement learning model fit. The color map is available in electronic version

Table 2. The model fits the main parameters

Group	α	model error	average PE
E	0.18	0.14	0.19
R1	0.27	0.12	0.12
R2	0.18	0.09	0.15
R4	0.24	0.14	0.14

Figure 9. The prediction error value generated by 12 trials on the second day of the four groups of participants.
Note. E: Traditional extinction group, R1: Single-retrieval extinction group, R2: Double-retrieval extinction group, R4: Quadruple-retrieval extinction group.

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