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50 Years of Research on Dopamine’s Role in Passive Aversive Conditioning and Extinction: A Systematic Review
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  • Rami Hamati,
  • Jessica Ahrens,
  • Cecelia Shvetz,
  • Matthew Holahan,
  • Lauri Tuominen
Rami Hamati
University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research

Corresponding Author:rhama036@uottawa.ca

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Jessica Ahrens
McGill University
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Cecelia Shvetz
University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research
Matthew Holahan
Carleton University
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Lauri Tuominen
University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research
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Abstract

Dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter, has historically been associated with the encoding of reward, whereas its role in aversion has received less attention. Here, we systematically gather the vast evidence for a role of dopamine in the simplest form of aversive learning: passive aversive conditioning and extinction. In the past, crude methods were used to augment or inhibit dopamine in order to study its relationship with fear conditioning and extinction. More advanced techniques such as conditional genetic, chemogenic, and optogenetic approaches now provide causal evidence for dopamine’s role in these learning processes. Dopamine neurons encode fear and extinction-related information and convey the signal via activation of D1, D2, D3, and D4 receptor sites particularly in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and striatum in order to continuously form, consolidate, retrieve, and update fear and extinction memory in a dynamic and reciprocal manner. Based on the reviewed literature, we conclude that dopamine is crucial for the encoding of passive aversive conditioning and contributes in a way that is comparable to its role in encoding reward.
14 Feb 2023Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
15 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
15 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
15 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
20 Jun 20231st Revision Received
21 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
08 Sep 20232nd Revision Received
12 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
12 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
12 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept