Articles tagged with Fear
A recent study revealed that dogs process smiles in a unique brain region and can distinguish between negative facial expressions, including anger, sadness, and fear. This ability allows researchers to understand the adaptations that have developed in dogs to support their social and emotional understanding of humans.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
A recent study found that more fear in dreams is associated with worse mood in the morning, but individuals with better emotion regulation strategies tend to have more fear in their dreams. Additionally, emotional complexity in dreams may have a protective effect on mood.
Researchers have found that targeted ultrasound can aid in unlearning fear more efficiently by stimulating the amygdala, a key region in processing emotions. Participants who received ultrasound stimulation showed reduced fear responses to previously frightening stimuli.
A Tulane University study reveals how the brain regulates defensive behavior and fine-tunes fear responses as perceived threats diminish. Researchers identified distinct roles for neurons in the central amygdala, which help determine whether an animal responds with intense escape behavior or freezing.
A new brain pathway has been identified that enables humans to quickly detect and respond to 'scary' sounds, leading to increased self-reported fearfulness. This pathway is associated with better hearing ability in noisy environments.
A new study reveals that the hippocampus represents emotion concepts in a structured hierarchy of pleasantness and bodily reaction, while the ventromedial prefrontal cortex tracks relationships between these nodes. This map-like representation may help in the treatment of mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety.
Researchers mapped participants' eye movements to identify patterns when viewing spider images, revealing attention is drawn to spider-specific features like webs and eggs. The study aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying arachnophobia, paving the way for more effective mental health treatments.
Treatment with psychedelics triggers large-scale reconfiguration of brain network dynamics driven by myelin remodeling, which might augment or sustain therapeutic effects. The study suggests that enhancing myelination could be a viable strategy to promote longer-term neural health and recovery from PTSD.
A new study has found that astrocytes are crucial for aversive memory, including learning what to fear and recalling memories. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about fear memory and suggest new treatment approaches for disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder.
A study by Anglia Ruskin University found that feeling fearful is associated with greater support for climate policies, while feelings of dread lead to lower support. The researchers suggest that evoking manageable levels of fear can motivate people to engage and support solutions.
A new study in Biological Psychiatry found that emotional pain (guilt, shame, sadness, loss of joy) weighs more heavily on individuals with PTSD, impairing daily functioning more than fear. The research identified two distinct PTSD profiles: one centered on fear and the other on emotional pain.
Researchers found that smiling faces are associated with higher trustworthiness, confidence, and attractiveness. Facial expressions play a crucial role in social judgments, with emotional mimicry influencing character trait evaluations.
Researchers identified 12 genes linked to canine behaviour also associated with human traits like anxiety, depression, and intelligence. The study provides insights into understanding dog emotional worlds and tailoring training or care to suit their needs.
Linda Bulone, a Queens Cancer Center Oncology nurse, received the 2025 Alliance Clinical Research Professionals Research Integrity Service Excellence (CRP RISE) Award. She has significantly increased clinical trial participation, expanded early screening efforts, and supported reductions in late-stage diagnoses.
Researchers found that group-based interventions, mindfulness-based techniques, and expressive therapies can reduce emotional distress and build resilience in people with cancer. CHMs like peer support and psychoeducation help patients reclaim their sense of self.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that an autism-linked mutation disrupts brain circuits responsible for erasing fear memories, leading to PTSD-like symptoms. By reactivating specific neurons, researchers were able to reverse the behavioral and physiological abnormalities.
The study used Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) to investigate the neural representations involved in forming and extinguishing associative memories. Researchers found an increase in theta activity in the amygdala when unpleasant stimuli were presented during extinction learning, suggesting a safety signal.
A new study found that nearly three out of four adults suffer from dental fear, with 45.8% experiencing moderate fear and 26.8% severe fear. Most individuals interested in overcoming their fear are open to free, brief treatment options, such as virtual dental fear treatments using apps and telehealth.
Research finds that young children aged 3-5 can recognize happiness, sadness, calmness, and fear in music. However, children with higher callous-unemotional traits show poorer emotion recognition in music compared to facial expressions.
The report warns that immigration enforcement is a public health emergency for millions of children, causing constant anxiety and harm to their emotional development and academic performance. Clinical case studies reveal how trauma is transmitted across generations, shaping the mental health of immigrant children.
Leading trauma researcher Professor Philip Hyland's work on Complex PTSD fundamentally changed World Health Organization diagnostic criteria, impacting how clinicians worldwide assess and treat trauma survivors. His innovative measurement tools, such as the International Trauma Questionnaire, challenge decades of clinical tradition and...
PTEN-deficient mouse models exhibit ASD-like characteristics due to circuit imbalance and altered behavior. The study reveals specific circuit changes in the amygdala resulting from PTEN loss in inhibitory neurons, providing new insights into the underlying circuit alterations that contribute to heightened fear and anxiety.
A national study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that cyberbullying, including exclusion and rejection, can lead to significant trauma in youth. The study found that almost 9 in 10 students experienced at least one form of victimization, highlighting the increasing ubiquity of digital aggression.
Researchers have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as the basis of emotional inference in animals and humans. In a study published in Nature, Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen found that rats can learn inferred emotions by associating a neutral stimulus with an unpleasant experience.
Researchers have found that psychedelic compounds can reverse a cascade involving brain-resident cells and immune cells, increasing fear behavior when chronic stress disrupts signaling. This finding represents a paradigm shift in understanding psychedelics' therapeutic potential.
Researchers found that immune system influences stress and fear behaviors by changing how brain cells communicate, but treatment with psychedelics can target these interactions and reduce stress-induced fear. The study suggests that psychedelics could reshape treatment for inflammatory disorders like anxiety and depression.
A study by the University of Zurich found that respondents prioritize present AI risks over hypothetical future threats, highlighting the importance of addressing actual problems. The research suggests a need for concurrent understanding and appreciation of both immediate and potential challenges in public discourse.
Research from the University of Ottawa reveals distressing levels of violence in Ontario schools, with workers facing normalization of violence and lack of support. The report highlights the consequences of austerity cuts on education systems, leading to overcrowded classrooms, limited resources, and delayed access to assessments.
A new study published in Brain Medicine found that administering Osanetant shortly after a traumatic event significantly dampens fear expression in female mice. This suggests that targeting fear memory at its roots may be an effective intervention to reduce PTSD-like behaviors.
A new study found that people with PTSD symptoms experience greater fear of their emotions, which is associated with less constructive communication and more unproductive communication in romantic relationships. This fear can lead to a vicious cycle where behavior triggered by PTSD symptoms strain relationships, maintaining PTSD symptoms.
A research team has uncovered a fundamental brain circuit that distinguishes between direct and vicarious fear, with the locus coeruleus playing a crucial role in processing fear. The study reveals a lateralized LC-NAergic system that separates personal from socially learned fear, shedding light on empathy and social learning.
A new study by Reichman University explores the emotional consequences of using artificial intelligence, finding a U-shaped relationship between anxiety and AI usage. The research highlights the psychological motivations and barriers associated with adopting smart technologies.
A Florida Atlantic University study reveals that middle-class white-collar offenders face unique challenges during reentry into society, including stigma, anxiety, and fear of public exposure. Despite these challenges, they tend to secure employment and stable housing more easily than non-white-collar offenders.
Research from Binghamton University finds that terrorist groups deliberately target vulnerable targets during crises to strike a balance between achieving objectives and preserving their reputation. Financial crises provide the best opportunity for attacks, while humanitarian crises tend to deter violence due to shared human suffering.
Researchers have identified distinct protein degradation patterns in key brain regions for individuals who witnessed trauma, differing from those who experienced it firsthand. Sex-specific differences also emerge, with implications for targeted treatments and a better understanding of PTSD development.
A new study challenges the long-held belief that fear is primarily communicated through facial expressions, suggesting instead that situational context plays a critical role in fear recognition. The research involved analyzing real-life fear reactions in videos and found that facial expressions alone fail to reliably signal fear.
A study by Dr. Keum Sehoon's team identified key neural ensembles in the anterior cingulate cortex that encode empathic freezing, a behavioral response to witnessing distress in others. The researchers found that observing another's pain triggers activation in the ACC as if the observer were experiencing pain themselves.
A review concludes that exposing preschool-aged children to small amounts of food allergens is safer than avoiding them, reducing the risk of severe reactions. Delaying exposure can prolong unnecessary dietary restrictions and increase anxiety related to food allergies.
A new Concordia study shows that consuming alcohol to cope with fears of anxiety was linked to unhealthy outcomes in young adults during the pandemic. Anxiety sensitivity, a fear of experiencing anxiety symptoms and negative health consequences, was also found to predict higher levels of drinking among young adults.
Studies show that AI chatbots, when exposed to traumatic content, exhibit increased anxiety levels. However, researchers at the University of Zurich have found that therapeutic prompts can significantly reduce these elevated anxiety levels in language models like ChatGPT.
A recent study reveals substantial differences in fear levels towards AI replacement of jobs across cultures, with India, Saudi Arabia, and the US reporting highest fear levels. The study highlights occupation-specific fears, with judges consistently ranked as most feared and journalists as least feared.
A new review study found significant gaps in existing research on breast cancer within the Black community and barriers preventing eligible but non-participating women from screenings. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive research to address emotional and psycho-social barriers faced by Black women.
A new study reveals that breast cancer survivors face significant psychosocial challenges due to fear of recurrence, affecting various aspects of their lives. The study found that nearly all affected domains were impacted by the fear, with those having greater fear experiencing more frequent disruptions.
A study on six Japanese macaques reveals that bodily responses like self-scratching predict pessimistic judgment bias, but not vice versa. This suggests an evolutionary conserved system where monkeys address immediate needs through bodily responses before engaging in cognitive information processing.
Researchers mapped the precise brain mechanisms that enable animals to overcome instinctive fears, revealing two key components in this learning process. The study found that a brain structure called the ventrolateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) stores learning-induced memories and is triggered by the release of endocannabinoids.
Researchers analyzed data from a nationwide survey to understand the relationship between COVID-19 infection experiences and fear levels. The study found that mild infection experiences alleviated fear, while severe symptoms worsened it, and that fear decreased over time.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that many students fear using plagiarism detection software, leading to counterproductive behavior and misdirected learning. The researchers recommend clearer guidelines, instruction on academic writing practices, and institutions' responsibility in explaining software limitations.
A new clinical pathway aims to address the intense fear of cancer returning, empowering patients to regain confidence. The three-step plan involves assessment, diagnosis, and stepped-care support to tackle moderate to severe anxiety, which affects 60% of people living with or beyond cancer.
A new review synthesizes evidence from molecular studies, animal research, and human trials to understand how ayahuasca influences emotional processing and memory systems. Key findings include ayahuasca's dual action through serotonin receptor types 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used skin conductance measurements to tell emotions apart. The team's analysis showed that changes in skin conductance over time can be used to discriminate emotional states, with potential applications for emotionally aware devices.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that teenagers become more sensitive to threats after a few hours alone, regardless of digital connection. This increased threat response can lead to anxiety and unease, even in the presence of online interactions.
A recent study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 found that heart attack survivors experience significant fear and anxiety about having another heart attack. The fear can be triggered by various factors, including new health information and lack of follow-up care. The study highlights the need for e...
A study from Tohoku University reveals that astrocytic manipulation affects the fate of long-term memory, with acidifying astrocytes preventing memories from being remembered and alkalinizing astrocytes preserving them. The findings suggest a parallel process of short-term and long-term memory formation.
Clinicians should avoid using 'never words' that can scare, offend, or diminish agency in patients and families dealing with serious illness. Researchers recommend alternative language and methods for clinicians to identify their own never words.
Scientists at UC Davis have identified new clusters of cells with differing gene expression patterns in the human and non-human primate amygdala. These findings suggest that alterations in specific cell types may contribute to disorders such as anxiety, and could lead to more targeted treatments.
Researchers found that fear memories start as broad associative memories, but become more specific over time. Individuals with high anxiety may struggle with integrating episodic memories, leading to persistent fear linked to cues.
A new study by Concordia researchers found that one-third of adult childhood cancer survivors experience a severe fear of cancer recurrence, which can cause real distress. The study highlights the need for improved treatment and screening for this understudied population.
A new Finnish study reveals that women with a fear of childbirth have a significantly shorter breastfeeding duration. The research found that fear of childbirth is associated with a three times higher risk of not meeting the recommended six-month exclusive breastfeeding period.