The impact of the BDNF Val66Met genotype on intrusive memories following trauma exposure and in PTSD is moderated by sex and timing of trauma exposure.

Intrusive memories are a key symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a possible mechanism influencing intrusive memories in PTSD given its role in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism has been linked PTSD susceptibility and episodic memory disturbances however previous research outcomes have been variable, potentially due to a failure to control for important confounds such as sex, ethnicity, BMI, developmental stage and extent of previous trauma experiences.

Using electrodermal activity to estimate fear learning differences in anxiety: A multiverse analysis.

Meta-analyses indicate differences in Pavlovian fear responses between anxious and non-anxious individuals using electrodermal activity (EDA). Recent research, however, has cast doubt on whether these effects are robust to different analytic choices. Using the multiverse approach conceived by Steegen et al.

The influence of the BDNF Val66Met genotype on emotional recognition memory in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dysregulated consolidation of emotional memories is a core feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) influences synaptic plasticity and emotional memory consolidation. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism has been associated with PTSD risk and memory deficits respectively, although findings have been inconsistent, potentially due to a failure to control for important confounds such as sex, ethnicity, and the timing/extent of previous trauma experiences.

Sex differences in intrusive memories following trauma.

Background: A key mechanism thought to underlie Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is enhanced emotional memory consolidation. Recent evidence in healthy controls revealed that women have greater negative memory consolidation following stress relative to men. This study examined emotional memory consolidation in women and men with PTSD, and in trauma-exposed and non-trauma controls to test the hypothesis that emotionally negative memory consolidation would be greater in women with PTSD.

Negative appraisals and fear extinction are independently related to PTSD symptoms.

Background: Considerable research has revealed impaired fear extinction to be a significant predictor of PTSD. Fear extinction is also considered the primary mechanism of exposure therapy, and a critical factor in PTSD recovery. The cognitive theory of PTSD proposes that symptoms persist due to excessive negative appraisals about the trauma and its sequelae.

IMPAIRED FEAR EXTINCTION ASSOCIATED WITH PTSD INCREASES WITH HOURS-SINCE-WAKING.

Background: Prior research has demonstrated that time-of-day may play an important role in the extinction of conditioned fear, with extinction better learned earlier in the day rather than later. Impaired fear extinction memory is widely considered a key mechanism of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The relationship between fear extinction and PTSD symptoms may be moderated by hours-since-waking.

Interaction of noradrenaline and cortisol predicts negative intrusive memories in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Recent evidence suggests that an interaction of noradrenaline (NE) and cortisol (CORT) during encoding leads to greater consolidation of emotional memories. Convergent models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest the release of CORT and NE lead to greater intrusive memories in PTSD. This study examined the effect of NE and CORT during encoding on recall and intrusive memories in PTSD.