Articles tagged with Fear
A new study at Northwestern University found that a single brief therapy session for adults with a lifelong debilitating spider phobia resulted in lasting changes to the brain's response to fear. Participants were able to touch or hold a tarantula in their bare hands six months after treatment, showing the effectiveness of short exposu...
A study published in PLoS ONE found that people's fear levels toward threats are associated with the typical size of their social circles. The researchers determined that this effect was not due to a lack of differentiation between small and large groups, suggesting that social circle size plays a significant role in shaping our percep...
A study in Spain reveals that job insecurity negatively impacts work performance and overall satisfaction in personal and professional lives. The impact varies across occupational groups, with blue-collar workers exhibiting the most significant dissatisfaction.
Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux suggests that studying animal survival instincts can provide insights into human emotions. By analyzing brain functions used for survival, researchers may gain new understandings of both humans' and animals' emotional responses.
Researchers found that individuals with a fear of spiders perceive the spiders as larger than they really are, which can lead to avoidance and persistence of the phobia. This warped perception doesn't necessarily interfere with daily living but can impact treatment outcomes.
Researchers identified a genetic link between fear and anxiety disorders like PTSD, revealing two distinct types of PTSD symptoms and potential treatments for each. The study suggests that genetic predispositions can affect resilience to traumatic experiences.
A new study challenges the common notion that the amygdala is solely responsible for fear responses. Research suggests the amygdala processes events related to a person's current concerns, not just fear. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of emotions and brain function.
New research by the University of Exeter suggests that our subconscious plays a significant role in how we respond to danger. Participants in the study showed a primitive response to fear-inducing stimuli, contradicting their conscious assessments of danger. This finding has implications for anxiety disorders and treatment.
A new study examines the relationship between observed workplace incivility towards same-gender colleagues and negative emotions. Female employees who witness rudeness towards female colleagues experience higher levels of anger, demoralization, fear, and anxiety. In contrast, male observers are more affected by observing uncivil behavi...
A recent study by Dr. Christian A. Vaccaro and colleagues found that successful mixed martial arts competitors have distinct ways of managing fear to convey a social identity to others. This 'managing emotional manhood' allows men to evoke confidence, pride, and dominance in their opponents.
A recent study has visualized the path of a sensory stimulus in the brain during fear learning and identified the underlying neuronal circuits. The researchers found that the cortex is essential for processing fear and anxiety, and that disinhibition of the cortical microcircuit facilitates formation of memory.
A new study found that fear of childbirth is a predisposing factor for emergency and elective cesarean sections. The research analyzed 353 women with fear of childbirth and 579 without the condition, revealing a higher incidence of traumatic deliveries and induced inductions.
Researchers found that the risk of death from CO2 poisoning is about one in 100 million. The study also suggests that engineered gas storage underground could be even safer due to planning and monitoring.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals how the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii alters rodent fear responses to attract them towards cat odors. Infected rodents exhibit increased neural activity in regions associated with sexual attraction, suggesting a link between fear and attraction.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and University of Guelph argue that incorporating employee engagement into performance management is crucial for improving both. The authors identify three psychological conditions – meaningfulness, safety, and availability – that support personal engagement. By focusing on these conditions, o...
A University of Virginia study found that intense light enhances fear or anxiety in mice, while dimmer light reduces it. The researchers discovered that the visual pathway responsible for this behavior is in the rods and cones, which can be used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that people use two main strategies to regulate their emotions: distraction and reappraisal. When faced with low-intensity negative emotions, individuals tend to reappraise the situation by thinking through it, while high-intensity emotions trigger a distracting response.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that hopeful consumers are more likely to choose healthy snacks like fruit over unhealthy options like candy bars. The authors suggest that this is because hopeful individuals focus on the future, rather than dwelling on past experiences or present emotions.
A study by Matt Evans finds that Israeli media frame information to separate secular and religious Jewish communities, using techniques such as selective reporting and emotive language. This division is not limited to Israel, with similar framing tactics observed in the US media.
A new study led by Emory psychologist Stella Lourenco found a clear relation between claustrophobic fear and basic aspects of spatial perception. People with higher claustrophobic fear have an exaggerated sense of near space surrounding them.
Researchers found that people consistently overestimated the slant of stairs and escalators by 18-19 degrees, regardless of viewing position. This challenges common ideas about how we perceive inclines in general.
Two neural pathways have been identified in the brain that play a role in developing phobias and anxiety disorders. The study found that individuals with overactive amygdalas and those who fail to activate their ventral prefrontal cortex are more prone to fear responses.
Infants as young as 7 months old show a preference for frightening stimuli when exposed to fearful voices. Three-year-olds rapidly identify snakes in photographs, indicating an early bias towards detecting threats. These findings suggest that fear of spiders and snakes is quickly learned during infancy.
A new drug has been found to reduce the persistent memory of fear conditioning in mice previously exposed to traumatic situations. The study suggests that this drug could be an effective treatment for disorders such as PTSD, panic attacks, and phobias.
A new study on a woman without an amygdala, a key structure in generating fear reactions, reveals that humans also lack this function. Despite encountering traumatic events, she experiences little to no fear, while still feeling other emotions like happiness and sadness.
A study published in Current Biology pinpointed the amygdala as the brain region causing fear. The researchers observed a patient without an amygdala, who failed to experience fear despite encountering traumatic events. This discovery may lead to new interventions for PTSD and anxiety disorders.
New research in Psychological Science found that the fear of being the target of malicious envy motivates people to act more helpfully toward those they think might be jealous. This fear encourages prosocial behavior, such as sharing resources with others.
Researchers have discovered distinct neuronal circuits within the central nucleus of the amygdala involved in acquisition and control of behavioral fear responses. The study found that specific inhibition cells play a key role in regulating fear behaviors.
A new study found that angry individuals pay more attention to rewarding images than threatening ones. This suggests that anger is associated with a motivation to approach rewards, rather than avoid threats. The research highlights the importance of understanding how emotions influence visual attention and behavior.
Researchers have extended the fear map to include the prelimbic cortex, revealing its importance in emotional regulation. The study found that mice lacking a critical growth factor in the prelimbic cortex struggle to remember to fear electric shocks, suggesting a potential link to anxiety disorders.
Researchers found that anxiety sensitivity significantly predicted depression symptoms in above-average worriers. The fear of cognitive dyscontrol and publically observable anxiety symptoms specifically correlated with depression. Understanding this link may lead to new depression treatments by addressing anxiety sensitivity.
A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that breathing carbon dioxide can trigger panic attacks by increasing brain acidity, which activates a brain protein involved in fear and anxiety behavior. The study suggests new approaches for treating panic and anxiety disorders by targeting the brain protein ASIC1a.
Researchers at the University of Montreal found that women are better than men at distinguishing between emotions, particularly fear and disgust. Women processed facial and multisensory expressions faster than men.
A study found that 'stranger danger' fears in inner-city neighborhoods are deterring kids from using playgrounds and parks. The researchers identified three themes: neighborhood characteristics, family involvement, and availability of adult-supervised programs, highlighting the need for more safe spaces and supportive environments.
Researchers pinpointed the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala as the site where fear conditioning is encoded. The study sheds light on how fear memories are formed and may lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders.
Researchers found goldfish exhibit reflexive and cognitive pain responses, displaying fear and anxiety after painful stimuli. The study suggests that fish consciously perceive pain and change behavior afterward.
The article examines how the Columbine High School shootings were originally portrayed in the media and how those messages changed after 9/11. The author argues that framing the event as 'terrorism' contributed to a broader discourse of fear, legitimating the war on terror and expanding social control.
A U of Minnesota study finds that fear and romantic desire can dramatically change how people make decisions, with fear leading to conformity and romance motivating uniqueness. This discovery has implications for marketing and advertising strategies.
Researchers found that genetic variations in serotonin transporter gene and COMT enzyme affect how individuals learn and overcome fear. Participants with shorter version of serotonin transporter gene had strong physiological fear response, while those with longer version did not.
Research by Denise Chen reveals that human sweat contains emotional meanings, particularly in ambiguous situations, and modulates vision to detect fear. The study found that exposure to 'fearful' sweat biases women towards interpreting facial expressions as more fearful, especially when emotions are unclear.
A new study found that marginalized groups fare worse in the aftermath of natural disasters and experience greater terrorism-related fears. Researchers discovered that these groups tend to overestimate the threat of terrorism and make more behavioral changes based on those fears.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that anti-tobacco ads focusing on either fear or disgust increase attention and memory in viewers. However, ads combining both elements decrease viewers' attention and memory. The researchers suggest that the combination of fear and disgust can make an ad 'too noxious' for the viewer.
Rutgers geneticist Gleb Shumyatsky discovered a link between the stathmin gene and helicopter mom behavior in mice. Mice lacking this gene took longer to retrieve pups and showed less cautious behavior towards peers, revealing the importance of innate fear in species survival.
Researchers have found that the neural mechanisms underlying the extinction of fear and cognitive emotion regulation are more similar than previously thought. The study used fMRI to compare brain activation patterns during these processes in humans, revealing overlap in regions such as the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and d...
A new study by Kent State professor John Updegraff suggests that finding meaning in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events like 9/11 can help individuals adjust over time. The research found that those who were able to make sense of the attacks coped better, reducing their fears of future terrorism and distress.
Researchers found that people can develop a general negative mood followed by a specific emotion after quick exposure to emotional stimuli. The study's results support the theory that humans should be able to detect specific emotion-evoking information automatically.
Research using virtual reality found that nearly 40% of participants experienced paranoid thoughts, with anxiety and depression also prevalent. The study suggests that paranoia is more common than thought and can be triggered by social interactions.
Researchers found that adults and young children can rapidly identify snakes among harmless images, but struggle with detecting them in cluttered environments. This innate ability may be linked to our ancestors' survival and reproductive success.
Researchers found that preschool children and their parents can quickly identify snakes in pictures, suggesting an evolved fear mechanism. The study suggests that the common fear of snakes may be hardwired into humans from an early age.
A study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that Sept. 11 terrorism-related thoughts and fears are associated with increased psychological distress and alcohol abuse in Americans. The study measured the effect of macro-level sociological stressors on mental health, four years after the attacks.
Researchers found that when individuals contemplate death, their unconscious mind actively seeks out and activates pleasant memories to cope with the threat. This 'terror management theory' suggests that the brain protects itself from paralyzing fear by involuntarily searching for positive associations.
A new study examines the correlation between race and police force size, finding that white fear of crime and economic threats account for most of the effect. Police forces tend to be larger in areas with more black residents, but this effect levels off as the black population increases.
Lisa Feldman Barrett, a BC psychology professor, has developed a 'conceptual act' model that explains emotions as conceptual acts, challenging traditional views of emotions and their role in mental and physical health. Her research aims to shape a new paradigm for the scientific study of emotion.
A recent study reviews the current state of public knowledge on biotechnology, revealing popular misperceptions and scientific illiteracy. The article emphasizes the need for a rational public debate to discuss risks and benefits of agricultural biotechnology.
A University of Iowa study shows that disrupting the acid sensing ion channel protein (ASIC1a) reduces innate fear behavior in mice. The findings suggest that this protein may be a critical component of brain systems underlying innate fear.
A Northwestern University study found that electrical activity in the brain is altered within 200 milliseconds when viewing subliminal emotional expressions, leading to biased ratings of facial expressions. Those with anxiety tend to exhibit stronger brain responses to fear-primed expressions.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have discovered a molecular mechanism that governs the formation of fears stemming from traumatic events. Inhibiting a kinase called Cdk5 facilitates the extinction of fear, while increased activity persists fear learned in a particular context.
A study by University of Manchester researchers reveals that arthritis pain activates the brain's emotional and fear centers, processing emotions and aversive conditioning. The findings suggest a more intense emotional response to arthritic pain compared to experimental pain.
A study by researchers at New York University's Departments of Psychology found that the neural process for acquiring fears through social observation is similar to that of direct experience. The brain's amygdala plays a critical role in both processes, indicating that observing others' emotional states can evoke empathic responses and...
Researchers found that people perceive the minds of others along two distinct dimensions: agency (self-control, morality) and experience (feelings, sensations). This framework sheds light on moral and legal decisions and highlights the subjective nature of perceiving mental attributes in others.