Learning to forget: manipulating extinction and reconsolidation processes to treat addiction

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013 Apr;226(4):659-72. doi: 10.1007/s00213-012-2750-9. Epub 2012 May 26.

Abstract

Finding effective long-lasting treatments for drug addiction has been an elusive goal. Consequently, researchers are beginning to investigate novel treatment strategies including manipulations of drug-associated memories. When environmental stimuli (cues) become associated with drug use, they become powerful motivators of continued drug use and relapse after abstinence. Reducing the strength of these cue-drug memories could decrease the number of factors that induce craving and relapse to aid in the treatment of addiction. Enhancing the consolidation of extinction learning and/or disrupting cue-drug memory reconsolidation are two strategies that have been proposed to reduce the strength of cues in motivating drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior. Here, we review the latest basic and clinical research elucidating the mechanisms underlying consolidation of extinction and reconsolidation of cue-drug memories in the hopes of developing pharmacological tools that exploit these signaling systems to treat addiction.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Addictive / therapy*
  • Cues
  • Extinction, Psychological / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Motivation
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Time Factors