Editorial: How Fear and Stress Shape the Mind

How do fear and stress systems interact and how do they shape ongoing and future behavioral responses? In a classical definition of fear and stress, we think of threatening stimuli activating a species-specific defensive threat reaction. This defensive reaction triggers physiological stress responses including adrenal hormone release (for review see LeDoux, 2003, 2012; Johnson et al., 2012). Knowledge of the microanatomy of conditioned threat memory is developing however, knowledge of its interaction with stress mediated adrenal steroid systems is still emerging Krugers et al.). Studies have identified the key role of the lateral amygdala and within this nucleus the microanatomy of Pavlovian fear/threat memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and extinction has begun to be revealed (Bergstrom et al., 2011, 2013a,b; Bergstrom and Johnson, 2014). This Frontiers Research Topic builds on previous research by addressing key questions that reveal unique aspects and mechanisms of how fear and stress shape the mind. The fear neural circuitry includes; amygdala output circuits that directly activate the sympathetic nervous system and also the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, thereby including stress hormones in the negative emotional response (Radley). It is generally accepted that negative emotion involves a stress response, however what stress is and how it manifests in the body has been, and continues to be, vigorously investigated and debated. Radley summarizes detailed circuit tracing and connectivity approaches to understand the interaction between stress and fear systems in the brain. Proposing that the anterior bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (aBST) is the central point for regulation of chronic stress induced hyperactivity of the HPA axis. This GABA projecting nucleus, upstream of the PVH, receives convergent input from amygdala, prelimbic cortex, and other fear related nuclei. Aspects of amygdala anatomy and its control of HPA responding may underlie differences in mental responding to fear and stress (Johnson and LeDoux, 2004; Johnson et al., 2012; McGuire et al., 2013). Krugers et al. describe a series of studies in animals and humans that highlight the key time course and mechanisms of stress hormones norepinephrine and glucocorticoids in facilitating fear memories. They describe short-term rapid activation of NE Beta and Mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) in the postsynaptic space leads to rapid insertion of AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic membrane. Over a longer period (hours), Glucocorticoid receptors (GR) acting through genomic mechanisms also drive insertion of AMPA receptors into the postsynaptic membrane. These authors found that these multiple complementary cellular mechanisms facilitate …