Perineuronal Nets and Fear Memories Erasure: State of the Art and Future Directions
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editor
Interests: psychobiology of emotions; neuroscience; neurobiology of fear; clinical psychology; psychometrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized extracellular matrix structures that ensheathe subsets of neurons, particularly fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive interneurons, and play a crucial role in regulating synaptic plasticity and stabilization in the central nervous system. Recent research has highlighted the involvement of PNNs in memory processes, particularly in the maintenance and protection of fear-related memories from erasure. The degradation or modulation of PNNs has been shown to reopen critical periods of plasticity, thus enabling the potential erasure or reconfiguration of traumatic memories. This promising line of investigation has paved the way for translational strategies aimed at treating anxiety disorders such as PTSD. Despite these advances, several open questions remain regarding the specificity, timing, and reversibility of PNN modulation. Additionally, there is increasing interest in identifying molecular targets within the PNN structure that could offer selective therapeutic windows while minimizing off-target effects. Therefore, this Special Issue invites the submission of original research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on the molecular composition and regulatory mechanisms of PNNs in fear memory retention and extinction. Submissions addressing both the current state of experimental models and future directions for clinical applications are particularly encouraged, with the goal of developing innovative treatments for fear-based psychopathologies.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Poli
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- perineuronal nets (PNNs)
- extracellular matrix (ECM)
- fear erasure
- traumatic memories
- PTSD
- translation research
- clinical treatment
- therapeutical strategies
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