Behavioral, circuit, and molecular mechanisms behind UCS deflation to reduce fear relapse
Official title: Behavioral, circuit, and molecular mechanisms underlying UCS deflation
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11420558 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Indiana University will explore a new way to reduce fear that may help with anxiety disorders by weakening fear memories more effectively than standard extinction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $385,923 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH136311-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420558 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with anxiety disorders or PTSD who undergo behavioral therapies and could benefit from improved relapse prevention strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without anxiety disorders or those not pursuing fear reduction therapies may not directly benefit from this mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project examines a novel approach called unconditional stimulus deflation to weaken fear responses and reduce relapse after fear reduction therapies. Researchers will compare UCS deflation to extinction across relapse scenarios like renewal, spontaneous recovery, and reinstatement, using behavioral, circuit, cellular, and molecular analyses. The study aims to understand how this approach changes brain circuits and memory representations to prevent returning fear in real-life situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more durable treatments for anxiety disorders by reducing relapse after fear-reducing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Past work shows that modifying fear memories can influence relapse, but UCS deflation represents a novel approach with potential for greater durability.
Where this research is happening
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Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Trask, Sydney — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Trask, Sydney
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.