Articles tagged with Fear
Rutgers researcher Shumyatsky has identified a new gene that controls both learned and innate fear, which may lead to the development of new anti-anxiety agents. The discovery was made through a combination of mouse genetics, cellular electrophysiology, and behavior studies.
Researchers found that stathmin controls both innate and learned fear in mice, with knockout models showing impaired ability to learn fear and reduced instinctive fear. The study provides genetic evidence for the expression of innate fear and memory formation.
A Carnegie Mellon study found that people's emotional reactions to 9/11 persistently predict their perception of terrorism risk. Emotions like fear and anger affect optimism and pessimism about future attacks, while hindsight bias remains unchanged.
A study published in JAMA Network in 2005 found that war survivors experienced high rates of mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The study highlighted the need for comprehensive care and support for military personnel returning from combat.
Researchers found that humans have a difficult time shaking off fears of people from another race, similar to fears of snakes and spiders. Interracial dating experience was the only factor to influence the persistence of fear learning bias, suggesting positive inter-group contact can reduce negativity towards outgroups.
A new study by Arizona State University researchers found that prejudices exist towards different groups of people, with distinct flavors characterized by fear, disgust, anger, and more. The study suggests that interventions to reduce inappropriate prejudices against different groups may need to be tailored accordingly.
Researchers at Georgia State University are exploring virtual reality (VRE) therapy as a potential solution to treat fear of public speaking. By immersing individuals in a controlled virtual environment, Anderson's study aims to reduce anxiety and improve confidence in real-world public speaking situations.
A study of 28 individuals with acrophobia found that combining D-cycloserine (DCS) with virtual reality exposure therapy significantly reduced fear of heights, with effects lasting at least three months. The treatment works by facilitating 'fear extinction' in the brain, a process previously used to treat phobias and post-traumatic str...
Researchers found that the amygdala is involved in both fear acquisition and unlearning, while the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a critical role in retaining extinction learning. The study provides evidence that the mechanisms of extinction learning may be preserved across species.
A possible new Ebola outbreak could lead to the deaths of over 20,000 western lowland gorillas within months if confirmed. The park is home to an estimated 30,000 gorillas, and a study suggests that when Ebola affects an area, more than 80% of great apes die from the disease.
Researchers at UCLA have made a groundbreaking discovery about the biology of fear, finding that yohimbine accelerates the process of overcoming conditioned fear in mice. By enhancing the effects of natural adrenaline release, yohimbine allows mice to overcome their fear four times faster than those treated with vehicle or propanolol.
Research on fear extinction suggests that cognitive enhancers like D-cycloserine can accelerate the learning process of fear extinction, leading to more rapid and lasting reductions in phobias. Virtual reality therapy combined with DCS resulted in significant improvements in patients' anxiety levels.
Researchers found that VR therapy with touch reduces anxiety and increases participants' comfort near real spiders. After three sessions, those who received touch-based therapy came within 6 inches of a live tarantula, compared to 5 feet for the control group.
A team of researchers at Columbia University identified a gene called Grp that inhibits the fear-learning circuitry in the brain. The discovery reveals that eliminating this protein's activity enhances learned fear and long-term potentiation, offering new insights into anxiety disorders and depression.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found that the cannabinoid receptor is crucial for erasing fear behavior. In mouse models lacking this receptor, fear behavior evoked by an aversive acoustic sound was significantly reduced compared to normal control mice.
A national field experiment found that Americans who experience anger are more optimistic about the future, less likely to take precautionary actions, and more likely to favor aggressive policy responses. Media portrayals of terrorist attacks strongly influence emotional responses, producing anger in some instances and fear in others.
A new JAMA series aims to teach doctors and nurses how to manage end-of-life care issues, as physicians are not adequately trained in this area. The series will cover topics such as symptom management, hospice care, and cross-cultural differences in dealing with death.
Researchers developed a new virtual reality exposure therapy called Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) to help individuals with a fear of flying. After eight sessions, participants showed significant reductions in anxiety and fear, with 93% having flown six months after treatment.
The center aims to understand how changes in the brain cause pathological anxiety states and seek clues from basic research that could lead to new treatments. It will conduct research with model species and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of human subjects to shed light on why particular treatments are effective.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that boys tend to fear animals, supernatural phenomena, and safety more often than girls, who fear natural phenomena such as thunderstorms and the dark. The study used human-figure drawings and questionnaires to assess anxiety levels in 86 children aged 8-12.
A Johns Hopkins study found that shame, denial, and fear of others' reactions prevent many abused women from sharing their experiences with doctors. Despite positive interactions with physicians, women often face barriers, including clinicians' discomfort or lack of understanding.
Millions of Americans experience social phobia, a fear of embarrassment or disapproval in social situations, which can lead to debilitating symptoms like blushing, sweating, and nausea. Effective treatments include medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and a combination of both.
Lying is a common practice in daily life, encouraged by societal expectations and fear of punishment. Leonard Saxe's research shows that self-preservational lying is fundamental to human nature, but understanding its causes can help mitigate it.