How engram mediates learning, extinction, and relapse

Fear learning ensures survival through an expression of certain behavior as a conditioned fear response. Fear memory is processed and stored in a fear memory circuit, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. A gradual decrease in conditioned fear response can be induced by fear extinction, which is mediated through the weakening of the original fear memory traces and the newly formed inhibition of those traces. Fear memory can also recover after extinction, which shows flexible control of the fear memory state. Here, we demonstrate how fear engram, which is a physical substrate of fear memory, changes during fear extinction and relapse by reviewing recent studies regarding engram.

Automated summary

Fear learning ensures survival through conditioned fear responses and fear memory is processed and stored in a fear memory circuit. Gradual decrease in conditioned fear response can be induced by fear extinction, while fear memory can also recover after extinction. Recent studies on fear engram changes during fear extinction and relapse are reviewed.