Cholinergic Brain Pathways in PTSD and Fear Extinction
Official title: Neuroimaging Cholinergic Mechanisms of Fear Extinction in PTSD
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11081623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re studying a brain chemical system (acetylcholine and a key receptor) to understand fear learning and PTSD better, with people who’ve experienced trauma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $754,009 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131551-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with trauma exposure across the PTSD spectrum who can undergo PET imaging and participate in fear-learning assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to undergo PET imaging or fear-extinction tasks may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project uses PET imaging to look at how the alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) relates to fear learning and the brain networks involved in PTSD. By comparing trauma-exposed individuals across PTSD severities, researchers will measure receptor availability using a specialized radioligand and connect those findings to fear-extinction brain circuits. The study builds on preliminary data suggesting lower α7 nAChR availability in PTSD and links to amygdala-prefrontal cortex connectivity. The goal is to clarify how cholinergic mechanisms contribute to fear extinction and PTSD symptoms, which could guide new treatments. The work is conducted at the University of Michigan with human participants and advanced neuroimaging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform new targets for PTSD treatments that enhance fear extinction and reduce symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human imaging data suggest α7 nAChR involvement in PTSD, but further human studies are needed to confirm and expand on these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hillmer, Ansel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Hillmer, Ansel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
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Understanding fear system wiring in PTSD and how brain myelin changes relate to symptoms
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Ketamine to boost memory reconsolidation and fear extinction in PTSD
A study at Yale will test whether ketamine given around intensive exposure therapy helps people with PTSD learn to forget or reduce fear more effectively.
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Understanding how the brain learns to avoid fear in PTSD patients
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with PTSD learn to avoid things that scare them and how this connects to overcoming their fears, using brain scans to compare those with PTSD and those who have experienced trauma but don’t have PTSD.
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Understanding how fear is learned and remembered in PTSD
This study is looking at how people with PTSD learn to recognize and remember threats, so we can create better treatments that help them manage their fears in everyday life.
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Understanding how myelination affects the brain's response to fear in PTSD
This study is looking at how changes in the protective covering of nerve fibers in the brain might be linked to the symptoms of PTSD, and it aims to find new ways to help people with this condition by examining brain tissue and using advanced imaging techniques.
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.