Dopamine: The Brain's 'All-Clear' Signal for Fear Extinction

MIT neuroscientists have discovered that the release of dopamine along a specific brain circuit acts as an "all-clear" signal, teaching the brain to extinguish fear. Their research in mice reveals that dopamine targets different neuron populations within the amygdala, encoding a memory of fear extinction. This mechanism, when functioning correctly, restores calm; when disrupted, it can contribute to anxiety or PTSD. The study pinpoints a potential therapeutic target for fear-related disorders, suggesting interventions could modulate dopamine receptors or specific neurons to influence fear memory formation and extinction.