Abstract:

Exposure to traumatic experience may result in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The formation of emotional memories following exposure to a traumatic event is an important mechanism for the subsequent development of PTSD. Animal and human research suggests that the development of PTSD may involve the overconsolidation of memories of a traumatic experience. Noradrenergic signaling strengthens the consolidation and reconsolidation of emotional memory. Therefore, the enhancement of noradrenergic signaling during extinction may strengthen the consolidation of extinction memory, whereas the disruption of noradrenergic signaling during consolidation and reconsolidation may abolish the pathological emotional component of memories, thus alleviating PTSD.

Key words: noradrenergic, consolidation, extinction, reconsolidation, posttraumatic stress disorder