A stimulus that used to reliably predict an important event may suddenly cease to do so. Successfully adapting to a constantly changing environment involves detecting this sudden change and updating our predictions accordingly. This capacity has been extensively studied in laboratory rodents through the fear extinction paradigm, during which a stimulus that previously signalled an aversive outcome is repeatedly presented without negative consequences. Within this context, our laboratory focuses on cholinergic projections directed to the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex during fear extinction learning. My PhD research will investigate whether these projections play a crucial role in safeguarding initial fear memories from complete erasure during extinction. Precise optogenetic manipulations in freely moving rats will be used to test various fear restoration phenomena that characterise fear relapse following extinction. The overarching aim of my research is to contribute to the neural circuity known to underlie fear extinction, and this knowledge has particular relevance for advancing the treatment of persistent fear and anxiety disorders.

• Leake, J., Cardona, L. S., Mencevski, F., Westbrook, R. F., & Holmes, N. M. (2024). Context and Time Regulate Fear Memory Consolidation and Reconsolidation in the Basolateral Amygdala Complex. Journal of Neuroscience, 44(9). Read More.

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• Quang, H., Mencevski, F., Piguet, O., Husain, M., Landin‐Romero, R., & Kumfor, F. (2023). Apathy, empathy and depression in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia: Examining the constructs and white matter correlates. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19, e077102. Read More.