Taken together, these data indicate a prominent role for eCB signaling in the BLA in the acquisition/expression of aversive associative memories, as well as in the long-term (over periods of days) extinction and/or habituation of conditioned fear responses. In addition, eCB signaling within the BLA is important for the deleterious effect of stress on associative learning and extinction. eCB signaling in the BLA is also important for stress-induced neuroendocrine activation, and for the habituation of neuroendocrine response to repeated homotypic stress. Lastly, eCB signaling in the BLA contributes to descending pain modulation. Within the CeA, available data suggest that eCB signaling is important for short-term extinction of conditioned fear responses, facilitates exploratory behavior, and produces a reinforcing motivational state.
