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Brief Communication

Nature Neuroscience 12, 256–258 (1 March 2009) | doi:10.1038/nn.2271

Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear

Merel Kindt , Marieke Soeter & Bram Vervliet

Animal studies have shown that fear memories can change when recalled, a process referred to as reconsolidation. We found that oral administration of the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol before memory reactivation in humans erased the behavioral expression of the fear memory 24 h later and prevented the return of fear.