Fear Acquisition and Prediction Error in Memory Updating

Tripureshwari PaulManish Kumar Asthana^*

• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India

Abstract The success of reconsolidation-based interventions that involve retrieval of a previously consolidated memory into lability and then to stabilisation, depends on the 'boundary conditions' of memory-the characteristics of memory acquired and the kind of Prediction Error (PE) induced. Our study reviewed the current findings on how US reinforcement rate during acquisition and PE can trigger memory reconsolidation to modulate fear memory among healthy individuals. Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a literature search in four databases-SCOPUS, PsycINFO, PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov.in. The inclusion criteria for the studies were a) must have reactivation using PE and acquisition of fear with at least trace reinforcement, b) use fear conditioning paradigm c) the Unconditioned stimulus (US) should have fear-generating property and d) must be in the English language. 37 original articles were included in the review. Using the systematic review, we were able to report the following findings: First, PE in the memory reconsolidation protocol can promote fear memory update. Second, the reconsolidation of fear memory does not rely on the US reinforcement rate during acquisition (reinforcement rate) of the original threat memory. And third, the degree of PE can help address the effectiveness of memory reconsolidation for targeting resistant fear memories.