How exercise can help reduce fear responses in PTSD
Official title: Efficacy and mechanisms of exercise-enhanced fear extinction
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11129421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different levels of aerobic exercise can help people with PTSD feel less afraid by improving their treatment, and it’s for anyone who wants to see if exercise can make a difference in managing their symptoms.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $770,654 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH137445-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing symptoms of PTSD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have PTSD or are unable to participate in aerobic exercise may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different intensities of aerobic exercise can enhance the process of fear extinction in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By examining the effects of exercise on fear responses, the study aims to improve existing treatments like exposure therapy, which currently has limited success rates. Participants will engage in various exercise regimens following fear extinction learning to assess their impact on fear retrieval and generalization. The research will also explore the biological mechanisms behind these effects, particularly focusing on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for PTSD, improving recovery rates for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in using exercise to enhance fear extinction, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
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
Related research
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Inflammation and fear learning in PTSD
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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.
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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.