Stress-induced enhancement of fear conditioning and sensitization facilitates extinction-resistant and habituation-resistant fear behaviors in a novel animal model of posttraumatic stress disorder

► We studied footshock stress effects on enhancing fear learning and sensitization. ► Footshock stress prior to predator fear conditioning impaired fear extinction. ► Footshock stress also impaired sensitized fear habituation to an auditory stimulus. ► Our novel animal model will aid in unraveling the pathophysiology of PTSD.