Understanding how memories of fear can be reduced and controlled in different contexts
Official title: Neural Substrates of Contextual Memory in Fear Extinction
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11136115 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain helps people with anxiety feel less afraid in different situations, so we can make treatments like exposure therapy work better for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $600,208 |
| NIH project number | 7R01MH065961-21 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136115 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders who experience fear responses in specific contexts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anxiety disorders or those whose fear responses are not context-dependent may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the brain mechanisms involved in reducing fear responses in patients with anxiety disorders, particularly focusing on how these responses can vary depending on the context. It aims to explore the neural circuits in the brain, especially the hippocampus and amygdala, that play a role in fear extinction and the potential relapse of fear when patients encounter triggers outside of therapy settings. By understanding these mechanisms, the research seeks to improve therapeutic interventions like exposure therapy, making them more effective in various environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for anxiety disorders, helping patients maintain fear reduction in different contexts.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding fear extinction, but this study aims to explore novel aspects of context-dependent fear responses.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maren, Stephen — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Maren, Stephen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Metabolic effects of PFAS exposure in the Cape Fear Basin (GenX Exposure Study)
This NIH grant studies how PFAS chemicals in drinking water may affect metabolism and weight-related health in adults and children living along the Cape Fear River.
-
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.
-
Sleep-based brain wiring of fear memory in the amygdala
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.