Losartan and Emotion Processing

Losartan Effects on the Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Humans

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of losartan (50mg, single dose) on the extinction of conditioned fear

In a double-blind, between-subject, placebo controlled design the effects of a single dose of losartan (50mg) on fear extinction in healthy male participants will be examined. Participants will initially undergo a Pavlovian fear conditioning procedure, followed by the administration of 50mg losartan or placebo. 90 minutes after treatment subjects will undergo the fear extinction procedure. Neural activity and psychophysiological indices of arousal will be assessed by the simultaneous acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and skin conductance data.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of head injury
• medical or psychiatric illness
• hypertension