Cannabidiol enhances consolidation of explicit fear extinction in humans |
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Authors: | Ravi K Das Sunjeev K Kamboj Mayurun Ramadas Kishoj Yogan Vivek Gupta Emily Redman H Valerie Curran Celia J A Morgan |
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Institution: | 1. Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 7HB, UK 2. UCL Medical School, University College London, London, UK
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Abstract: | Rationale Whilst Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic cannabinoid, has been shown to enhance extinction learning in rats, its effects on fear memory in humans have not previously been studied. Objectives We employed a Pavlovian fear-conditioning paradigm in order to assess the effects of CBD on extinction and consolidation. Method Forty-eight participants were conditioned to a coloured box (CS) with electric shocks (UCS) in one context and were extinguished in a second context. Participants received 32 mg of CBD either following before or after extinction in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. At recall, 48 h later, participants were exposed to CSs and conditioning contexts before (recall) and after (reinstatement) exposure to the UCS. Skin conductance and shock expectancy measures of conditioned responding were recorded throughout. Results Successful conditioning, extinction and recall were found in all three treatment groups. CBD given post-extinction enhanced consolidation of extinction learning as assessed by shock expectancy. CBD administered at either time produced trend level reduction in reinstatement of autonomic contextual responding. No acute effects of CBD were found on extinction. Conclusions These findings provide the first evidence that CBD can enhance consolidation of extinction learning in humans and suggest that CBD may have potential as an adjunct to extinction-based therapies for anxiety disorders. |
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