Exercise and fear extinction in PTSD: how aerobic exercise may boost recovery
Official title: Efficacy and mechanisms of exercise-enhanced fear extinction
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11336403 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adults with PTSD tests whether doing moderate aerobic exercise around fear-extinction training helps reduce fear in daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $701,762 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH137445-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336403 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older with PTSD who are undergoing or have access to exposure-based therapy and can participate in supervised aerobic exercise.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to participate in moderate aerobic exercise or with medical conditions limiting exercise may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will test if moderate-intensity aerobic exercise after fear-extinction learning improves safety memories and reduces fear responses in people with PTSD. Researchers will compare different exercise intensities and measure brain and blood markers, along with behavioral fear responses, to understand how exercise could enhance therapy. The study builds on pilot findings that exercise after extinction learning may boost consolidation of new safety memories and change neural patterns related to fear. If successful, it could lead to more effective, accessible adjuncts to exposure-based treatments for PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could strengthen PTSD treatment by making fear extinction memories more durable and generalizable.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilot data suggest exercise after extinction learning can reduce fear responses, supporting the rationale for a larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cisler, Joshua M — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Cisler, Joshua M
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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.