Extinguishing Fear Memories Relies On An Unusual Change to DNA
Researchers report fear extinction memories form as a result of an adenosine modification, which help to increase the activity of specific genes. ... Read More...
fear
Heartbeats and Memory Suppression: The New Tools for Controlling Fear
From designing drugs to help suppress traumatic memories, to harnessing the power of heartbeats, researchers are searching for new therapies to help people overcome their fears and phobias.... Read More...
Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy Shows Lasting Effect in Phobia Treatments For Children with ASD
Researchers report children on the autism spectrum who experience specific phobias may benefit from immersive virtual reality therapy. The study reports immersive VR helped almost 45% of children with ASD remain free from their phobias six months after treatment.... Read More...
Epigenetics Contributes to Male and Female Differences in Fear Memories
A new mouse study reveals males recall fearful memories better than females. Researchers attribute the difference to the gene Cdk5, which has previously been implicated in creating fear memories and stress behaviors. The study reports Cdk5 is naturally activated in males, but not females.... Read More...
The 17 Different Ways Your Face Conveys Happiness
A new study reports humans have more universal ways of expressing happiness than any other emotion.... Read More...
How Fear and Anger Affects Different Political Ideologies
A new study reports the emotional underpinnings of political ideology motivates how the people seek and process information about election races and climate change.... Read More...
What Mass Shootings do to Those Not Shot: Social Consequences of Gun Violence
Researchers report on the social and psychological consequences exposure to mass shootings have on survivors, first responders and the community as a whole.... Read More...
Lasting Effects of Early Life Stress on Genome, Gut and Brain
Researchers report stress during fetal development and early childhood can have lasting implications for brain development, leading to increased risks of brain disorders later in life. ... Read More...
Why Haunted Houses Creep Us Out
Psychologists examine why haunted houses make us feel creeped out, concluding they give us the creeps not because of the threat they pose, but because it is unclear whether or not they pose a real threat.... Read More...
Why It’s Fun to Be Frightened
With Halloween just around the corner, researchers look at why many of us find enjoyment out of being scared.... Read More...
Eye Movements Take Edge off Traumatic Memories
Researchers report EMDR, a widely used but controversial psychotherapy technique, can help suppress fear related amygdala activity during the recall of traumatic memories.... Read More...
It’s All in the Eyes: Amygdala’s Role in the Experience and Perception of Fear
A new study reveals a new hypothesis about the role the amygdala plays in the experience and perception of fear. Researchers say, instead of directly mediating fear, the amygdala is involved in a person's ability to attend to the whites of another person's widening eyes, something that is more generally important to social functioning. ... Read More...