Areas predicting long-term return of fear overlap both with the original fear memory trace and with areas predicting short-term return of fear.

<p>Areas in the amygdala in the 6h group representing the original fear memory trace and that overlapped with areas predicting short-term return of fear in turn overlapped with areas predicting long-term return of fear. The right side of the brain is depicted to the right.</p

Amygdala activity predicts return of fear over 18 months.

<p>A) Fear conditioning on day 1 was established by pairing a visual cue with electric shocks and then the memory reminder was given on day 2 either 10 min or 6 hours prior to extinction was performed, through exposure to the conditioned cue without shocks. On day 3, memory related amygdala activity was evaluated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during renewal-induced fear, and return of fear was evoked on day 537. Skin conductane respones (SCR, the electrophysiological fear index) in the 6h group with undisrupted reconsolidation, but not the 10min group with disrupted reconsolidation, discriminated between the shock-reinforced (CS+) and unreinforced (CS-) cue during reacquisition. See the two right hand bars in row A. Bars represent means and error-bars are SEM. Return of fear was predicted by initial neural activity in the basolateral amygdala in the 6h but not the 10min group. (Coronal brain slices in the two top rows). B) As illustrated in the right panel in row B, return of fear was stronger after undisrupted (6h) than disrupted (10min) reconsolidation at 18 months follow-up, as reflected in enhanced reactivity to the cue predicting shocks. Boxes illustrate mean± SEM, whiskers represent SEMx1.96. The coupling between the electrophysiological fear measure and brain activity was significantly stronger in the 6h than in the 10min group as reflected by enhanced connectivity between SCR and BOLD activity in the basolateral amygdala; mapped in the coronal brain slice in row B. * indicates p<.05 one-tailed. The right side of the brain is depicted to the right.</p

data in excel-file

Women assessed two times post partum (within 48h and after 4-6 weeks) and healthy controls assessed twice across the menstrual cycle (mid-follicular and late luteal). Demographic data and extracted beta-values from obtained differences within/between groups in BOLD-reactivity to an emotional face-matching task

Self-rated depression and anxiety and emotional paradigm performance.

<p>^a p < 0.05 in comparison with early postpartum, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test.</p><p>^b p < 0.001 in comparison with early postpartum, Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p>^c p < 0.05 in comparison with late postpartum, Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p>^dNo group by time-point interactions were note in the ANOVA.</p><p>Self-rated depression and anxiety and emotional paradigm performance.</p

Demographic and clinical data for the study population.

<p>Data are expressed as mean (standard deviation) or <i>n</i> (%).</p><p>^aSelf-reported pre-pregnancy values.</p><p>^bFisher’s exact test.</p><p>Demographic and clinical data for the study population.</p

Differences between the early and late postpartum period in blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli, N = 13.

<p>BA = Brodmann area, L = left, R = right.</p><p>^aIn Talairach stereotactic space.</p><p>^bCorrected for multiple comparisons across the search volume of the region of interest, with an extent threshold cluster size ≥ 10.</p><p>^cEarly postpartum assessment was made within 48 hours of delivery, and late postpartum assessment within 4–6 weeks from delivery.</p><p>Differences between the early and late postpartum period in blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli, N = 13.</p

Spearman rank correlations between blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli and self-reported anxiety and depression in early and late postpartum in 13 women.

<p>MADRS-S = Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale—Self-rated version, STAI-S = Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.</p><p>*<i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p>**<i>p</i> < 0.001.</p><p>^a<i>p</i> = 0.09, Spearman rank correlation (two-tailed).</p><p>^bEarly postpartum assessment was made within 48 hours of delivery, and late postpartum assessment within 4–6 weeks from delivery.</p><p>Spearman rank correlations between blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli and self-reported anxiety and depression in early and late postpartum in 13 women.</p

Differences between postpartum women (n = 13) and naturally cycling control subjects (n = 15) in blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli.

<p>BA = Brodmann area.</p><p>^aIn Talairach stereotactic space.</p><p>^bCorrected for multiple comparisons across the search volume of the region of interest, with an extent threshold cluster size ≥ 10.</p><p>^cEarly postpartum assessment was made within 48 hours of delivery, and late postpartum assessment within 4–6 weeks from delivery.</p><p>^dThe healthy controls were randomly assigned to perform their first session in etiher the follicular or luteal phase.</p><p>Differences between postpartum women (n = 13) and naturally cycling control subjects (n = 15) in blood oxygen level—dependent reactivity to emotional stimuli.</p

Reactivity in the right inferior frontal gyrus (A, B), left middle frontal gyrus (C) and right insula (D) during emotional stimulation was more pronounced in late postpartum than in early postpartum in 13 healthy newly delivered women.

<p>Brighter colors indicate higher T-scores. Early postpartum assessment was made within 48 hours of delivery, and late postpartum assessment within 4–6 weeks from delivery.</p

Positive correlations between reactivity in IFG and insula to scores on MADRS-S, STAI-S and EPDS in women early and late postpartum.

<p>Early postpartum assessment was made within 48 hours of delivery, and late postpartum assessment within 4–6 weeks from delivery.</p