GABA Receptors in the Modulation of Fear Memory Extinction

Abstract

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a the main inhibitory transmitter in the central nervous system, which determines the efficiency of neuronal interactions. GABA receptors play a key role in various stages of fear memory – formation, consolidation, retention, reconsolidation, and extinction. Extinction is an important behavioral phenomenon which allows the body to adapt its behavior to changes in the surrounding world. Fear memory extinction constitutes “new” learning, which interferes with the expression of a previously acquired conditioned fear reaction. This review summarizes our own and published data on the GABAergic modulation of fear memory extinction and the potential for pharmacological correction of impairments to this process by actions on GABA_A and GABA_B receptors.