Published on January 14, 2026
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Updated on January 14, 2026
Dates
on the January 8, 2026
How does the brain encode memories of fear... and, more importantly, how can it attenuate them? In INSIGHTS magazine, Bianca Silva, a researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), sheds new light on the mechanisms of traumatic memory.
The article discusses the neural networks involved in emotional memory, particularly those associated with fear. It challenges the traditional view centered on the amygdala, highlighting the decisive role of deeper brain structures, such as the medial thalamus and hypothalamus, in orchestrating emotional responses and modulating traumatic memories. Using cutting-edge technologies—optogenetics, light sheet brain imaging, and functional connectivity analysis—this research aims to understand how intense emotional memories, particularly those related to fear, can be modulated over time and to identify mechanisms capable of permanently weakening fear memories.
One of the main objectives of this research is to "pave the way for new therapeutic interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder."
Read the full article in INSIGHTS magazine No. 1 (page 38).
One of the main objectives of this research is to "pave the way for new therapeutic interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder."
Read the full article in INSIGHTS magazine No. 1 (page 38).
