Exploring how new experiences improve fear learning and memory.
Official title: INVESTIGATING HOW NOVELTY ENHANCES FEAR LEARNING & MEMORY
Funded at Williams College · NIH-10580151 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how trying new things can help people overcome fear, which is important for those dealing with anxiety and trauma, and it aims to find better ways to support their healing process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Williams College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Williamstown, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $435,109 |
| NIH project number | 1R15MH129947-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10580151 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing anxiety or trauma-related disorders who may benefit from enhanced exposure therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-anxiety-related disorders or those not experiencing fear-based responses may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to novel experiences can enhance the process of fear extinction, which is crucial for treating anxiety and trauma-related disorders. By studying the brain's response to fear-conditioned stimuli, the researchers aim to understand how novelty influences the formation of new memories that can inhibit learned fear responses. The study will involve examining the role of the hippocampus and mapping neural activation patterns in response to novelty during fear extinction training. This research could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for individuals struggling with anxiety and trauma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for anxiety and trauma-related disorders by improving exposure therapy techniques.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that novelty can enhance fear extinction learning, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Williams College
Williamstown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cazares, Victor a — Williams College
- Study coordinator: Cazares, Victor a
Related research
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Inflammation and fear learning in PTSD
This study looks at how a temporary inflammatory challenge affects fear extinction in people with and without PTSD to better understand how PTSD could be treated.
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A study in people or animals will look at how sleep helps the amygdala store fear memories by using advanced brain imaging and genetic tools to understand memory changes.
-
Spatial circuits in the prefrontal cortex that control fear and discrimination
Researchers are exploring how different parts of the prefrontal cortex help decide when to feel fear or not, with the goal of better understanding anxiety-related conditions.
-
Understanding and improving fear and safety learning in OCD
A study at Yale will test brain-based methods to help adults with OCD improve safety learning and fear extinction during therapy.
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.