Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans

•Subjective experiences are valuable for analyzing fear and fear-related memories.•Autobiographies are valuable for analyzing fear and fear-related memories.•These analyses would be valuable for longitudinal analyses in individuals.•These analyses would be valuable to measure response to behavioral and/or pharmacological interventions.•Linguistic analysis should be further developed and incorporated into standard care.