Counteracting Molecular Pathways Regulating the Reduction of Fear: Implications for the Treatment of Anxiety Diseases

Abstract

The pathogenesis of emotional disorders often involves associative learning that links anxiogenic stimuli to certain life experiences. Among these are phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders that severely affect the life of patients and are an increasing burden to our societies. Treatment of such disorders generally involves the promotion of extinction processes, which are defined as the reduction of an aversively motivated behavior. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying extinction may help to develop therapeutic strategies for emotional disorders. Here, we discuss recent advances in the understanding of the molecular machinery that regulates the extinction of learned fear in mice. On this basis, we suggest that extinction is regulated by counteracting signaling pathways that either promote or prevent extinction of fear. Targeting such pathways should be beneficial for the treatment of patients suffering from anxiety disorders.