fear

Why a wide-eyed expression of fear can be a good thing
05/02/2013 - 09:17

Wide-eyed expressions that typically signal fear seem to enlarge our visual field making it easier to spot threats at the same time they enhance the ability of others to locate the source of danger, according to new research from the University of Toronto.

 

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More traffic deaths in wake of 9/11
09/11/2012 - 08:46

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many Americans started driving more due to a fear of flying – and lost their lives in traffic accidents. But why did this happen more frequently in some states than in others?

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Mice have system to handle smell of fear
07/23/2012 - 16:04

Mice appear to have a specialized system for detecting and at least initially processing instinctually important smells such as those that denote predators. The finding raises a question about whether their response to those smells is hardwired.

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Neuroeconomics to Study Decision-Making in Anxious Individuals
07/23/2012 - 07:03

Anxiety disorders affect approximately 40 million American adults each year, and although they are treatable, they often cause significant distress. The excessive fear and dread that accompanies anxiety disorders clearly influences the everyday decision-making processes of anxious individuals. Despite its importance, “there is surprisingly little research on how anxiety disorders influence decisions,” commented neuroscientist Dr. Elizabeth Phelps, who co-authored this new review with Dr. Catherine Hartley, both of New York University.

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Cognitive-behavioral therapy effective in combatting anxiety disorders
06/28/2012 - 13:55

Whether it is a phobia like a fear of flying, public speaking or spiders, or a diagnosis such as obsessive compulsive disorder, new research finds patients suffering from anxiety disorders showed the most improvement when treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in conjunction with a "transdiagnostic" approach – a model that allows therapists to apply one set of principles across anxiety disorders.

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With altered brain chemistry, fear is more easily overcome
06/12/2012 - 07:10

Researchers at Duke University and the National Institutes of Health have found a way to calm the fears of anxious mice with a drug that alters their brain chemistry. They've also found that human genetic differences related to the same brain chemistry influence how well people cope with fear and stress.

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