Diekelmann, S. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

Fear memory in humans is consolidated over time independent of sleep

Fear memories can be altered after acquisition by processes such as fear memory consolidation or fear extinction, even without further exposure to the fear-eliciting stimuli, but factors contributing to these processes are not well understood. Sleep is known to consolidate, strengthen and change newly acquired declarative and procedural memories. However, evidence on the role of time and sleep in the consolidation of fear memories is inconclusive. Here, we used highly sensitive electrophysiological measures to examine the development of fear-conditioned responses over time and sleep in humans. We assessed event-related brain potentials (ERP) in 18 healthy young individuals during fear conditioning before and after a 2-hour afternoon nap or a corresponding wake interval in a counterbalanced within-subject design. The procedure involved pairing a neutral tone (CS+) with a highly unpleasant sound (US). As a control, another neutral tone (CS-) was paired with a neutral sound. Fear responses were examined before the interval during a habituation phase and an acquisition phase as well as after the interval during an extinction phase and a re-acquisition phase. Differential fear conditioning during acquisition was evidenced by a more negative slow ERP component (stimulus-preceding negativity) developing before the unconditioned stimulus (loud noise). This differential fear response was even stronger after the interval during re-acquisition compared to initial acquisition, but this effect was similarly pronounced after sleep and wakefulness. These findings suggest that fear memories are consolidated over time, with this effect being independent of intervening sleep.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Selective REM-Sleep Suppression Increases Next-Day Negative Affect and Amygdala Responses to Social Exclusion

Healthy sleep, positive general affect, and the ability to regulate emotional experiences are fundamental for well-being. In contrast, various mental disorders are associated with altered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, negative affect, and diminished emotion regulation abilities. However, the neural processes mediating the relationship between these different phenomena are still not fully understood. In the present study of 42 healthy volunteers, we investigated the effects of selective REM sleep suppression (REMS) on general affect, as well as on feelings of social exclusion, emotion regulation, and their neural underpinnings. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging we show that REMS increases amygdala responses to experimental social exclusion, as well as negative affect on the morning following sleep deprivation. There was no evidence that emotional responses to experimentally induced social exclusion or their regulation using cognitive reappraisal were impacted by diminished REM sleep. Our findings indicate that general affect and amygdala activity depend on REM sleep, while specific emotional experiences possibly rely on additional psychological processes and neural systems that are less readily influenced by REMS.

neuroscience↗