Understanding mechanisms for PTSD pathogenesis and development of its treatment method, based on regulatory mechanisms of traumatic memory

Satoshi Kida

Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder （PTSD） is a psychiatric disorder associated with memories of life-threatening traumatic experiences.　The most representative traumatic memory is the fear memory.　Fear memories are episodic memories of fear conditioning between the fear and the context of the experience.　Since fear conditioning is observed in animals, including humans, regulatory mechanisms of fear memory have been investigated and methods for PTSD treatment have been tried to develop.　Our group is investigating mechanisms for the regulation of memory processes, including consolidation, retrieval, reconsolidation, extinction, and forgetting of fear memories.　Furthermore, based on this basic research, we are also trying to understand the mechanisms of PTSD and to develop methods to improve PTSD.　In this manuscript, I will focus on the findings of our research showing the regulatory mechanisms of fear memory, the development of treatment methods for PTSD by targeting memory forgetting, and the molecular mechanisms of PTSD.

Address correspondence to Dr. Satoshi Kida, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo（1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan）