Fear not: manipulating sleep might help you forget

Delphine Oudiette; James W Antony; Ken A Paller

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2013.10.003

Fear not: manipulating sleep might help you forget

Trends Cogn Sci. 2014 Jan;18(1):3-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.10.003. Epub 2013 Oct 21.

Authors

Delphine Oudiette¹, James W Antony¹, Ken A Paller²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
² Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. Electronic address: kap@northwestern.edu.

Abstract

Memory storage is not static - updating is often needed. When it comes to traumatic memories, forgetting may be desired. Two innovative studies recently demonstrated that fear memories can be weakened during sleep using odors associated with fear-learning episodes. New strategies along these lines should be carefully considered for treating unwanted fears.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Conditioning, Classical / physiology
Fear / physiology*
Humans
Memory / physiology*
Mental Recall / physiology
Mice
Sleep / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding