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Interference effects of transcranial direct current stimulation over the right frontal cortex and adrenergic system on conditioned fear

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Abstract

Rationale

The effects of pharmacological interventions on fear memory have widely been studied, but there are very few studies about the effects of brain electrical stimulation on fear memory function.

Objective

Therefore, our aim was to determine whether anodal/cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the right frontal cortex would modify propranolol-induced contextual and auditory fear memory deficits, before or after training.

Methods

The adult NMRI male mice were randomly assigned into three groups: the sham group, the anodal tDCS group, and the cathodal tDCS group. Fear memories were evaluated using a classical fear conditioning apparatus.

Results

While the anodal stimulation did not affect fear retrieval, post-training cathodal stimulation improved fear memory retrieval. Regardless of when propranolol (0.1 mg/kg) was administered, it impaired fear memory retrieval. However, when anodal stimulation and propranolol were applied prior to the training, contextual fear memory retrieval was increased and auditory fear memory was reversed. An enhanced contextual retrieval was also observed when propranolol was administered prior to the training and stimulation occurred after the training. Only when the stimulation occurred prior to the training and propranolol was administered after the training was there a selective improvement in contextual fear memory retrieval, leaving the auditory fear memory retrieval impaired. Interestingly, cathodal stimulation improved the effects of propranolol on auditory fear memory only when it occurred prior to the training.

Conclusion

The results highlight possible improving effects for anodal/cathodal tDCS on propranolol-induced deficits on fear memories. The timing of the interventions related to the specific phases of memory formation is important in modulating fear behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for providing financial support to this project.

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Correspondence to Mohammad Nasehi or Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast.

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Research highlights

Blockade of β1-adrenoceptors impaired acquisition and consolidation of fear memories.

Anodal stimulation increased propranolol response on contextual fear acquisition

Pre-training anodal and post-training propranolol increased contextual fear memory

Anodal stimulation restored propranolol effect on auditory fear acquisition

Only pre-training cathodal stimulation reversed drug effect on auditory memory.

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Nasehi, M., Soltanpour, R., Ebrahimi-Ghiri, M. et al. Interference effects of transcranial direct current stimulation over the right frontal cortex and adrenergic system on conditioned fear. Psychopharmacology 234, 3407–3416 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4722-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4722-6

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