Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (Sep 2019)

Pavlovian Olfactory Fear Conditioning: Its Neural Circuity and Importance for Understanding Clinical Fear-Based Disorders

  • Marziah Hakim,
  • Marziah Hakim,
  • Marziah Hakim,
  • Andrew R. Battle,
  • Andrew R. Battle,
  • Andrew R. Battle,
  • Andrew R. Battle,
  • Arnauld Belmer,
  • Arnauld Belmer,
  • Selena E. Bartlett,
  • Selena E. Bartlett,
  • Selena E. Bartlett,
  • Luke R. Johnson,
  • Luke R. Johnson,
  • Luke R. Johnson,
  • Luke R. Johnson,
  • Fatemeh Chehrehasa,
  • Fatemeh Chehrehasa,
  • Fatemeh Chehrehasa,
  • Fatemeh Chehrehasa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2019.00221
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Odors have proven to be the most resilient trigger for memories of high emotional saliency. Fear associated olfactory memories pose a detrimental threat of potentially transforming into severe mental illness such as fear and anxiety-related disorders. Many studies have deliberated on auditory, visual and general contextual fear memory (CFC) processes; however, fewer studies have investigated mechanisms of olfactory fear memory. Evidence strongly suggests that the neuroanatomical representation of olfactory fear memory differs from that of auditory and visual fear memory. The aim of this review article is to revisit the literature regarding the understanding of the neurobiological process of fear conditioning and to illustrate the circuitry of olfactory fear memory.

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