Sep 14th 2014, 00:00, by Janine L. Kwapis, Marcelo A. Wood
Understanding how the brain converts temporary sensory stimuli into persistent memory has been a fundamental focus of neuroscience research for the past few decades [1]. One important question is how such temporary changes in the environment can be encoded in a relatively persistent manner by the cell to produce long-lasting memory, such as memory for a fearful event. Identifying the molecular mechanisms of fear memory formation is particularly important in light of the prevalence of PTSD, a debilitating condition characterized by inappropriate fear generalization to safe contexts and stimuli, and other anxiety disorders such as phobias and panic disorders, which together affect nearly 18.1% of adults in the USA [2] and cost an estimated $42.3 billion each year [3].
