The Science Behind the Fear
We all feel scared, jumpy, or anxious but have you ever stopped to think why? Have you ever wondered why you get those goosebumps or why you feel that you are frozen sometimes? Just in time for Halloween, here is some information on how our body processes fear. According to NIMH, fear is defined as a feeling of disquiet that begins rapidly in the presence of danger and dissipates quickly once the threat is removed and is also generally adaptive. Fear is a primitive response.
While neuroscientists do not understand the pathways that we take to interpret fear, there are a few recent studies that examine this. In the first one, scientists identified specific neurons called SOM+ that are linked to a type of “fear memory” held in the amygdala.
In the second study, researchers determined that the amygdala is not the only way that the human mind internalizes fear. They found that the brainstem, diencephalon and insular cortex also detect fear by sensing the body’s more primal signals of danger when basic survival may be threatened. This finding could be an explanation for why people have panic attacks because this panic and intense fear are found outside of the amygdala.
Consider the three main responses that humans have to fear: freezing, fleeing, or fighting. In a 2010 study published in Neuron, scientists concluded that deciding whether to freeze, flee or fight is an extremely complex process. Additionally, they believe that humans can consciously condition ourselves to be more active in facing the fear by inhibiting these fear neurons. The study found that mice exhibited a change from a passive to an active fear response by activating the outer layer of the cerebrum, the cortex. This finding confused scientists because they originally believed that the amygdala controlled fear through the brainstem, not the cortex. This study is key in understanding how to switch from a passive to more active fear coping strategy in order to more successfully handle the everyday stress of modern life.
These findings are extremely useful in determining new fear and stress coping techniques. While developing these strategies will take some time, use this information and think about what your brain is doing next time you scream during a scary movie, jump at a rustle in the bushes, or run away when you hear a loud noise. In the meantime, happy Halloween and embrace that fear!
– Melissa Heller
Sources:
Decoding the Neuroscience of Fear and Fearlessness -Psychology Today
Fear/Safety, Anxiety, and Anxiety Disorders -NIMH
