A naukri.com initiative
Bioengineer
2d
253
Image Credit: Bioengineer
Decoding Fear: How the Brain Differentiates Between Direct and Vicarious Threats
- A study led by Dr. SHIN Hee-sup delves into how the brain distinguishes between direct and vicarious fear, offering insights into emotional learning and empathy.
- The research focuses on the role of the locus coeruleus (LC) in processing different types of fear stimuli, challenging prior assumptions about fear processing.
- While traditional focus has been on the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the study highlights the lateralization of the LC in fear responses.
- Advanced techniques like optogenetics and viral tracing were employed to manipulate neural activity and study fear responses in mice.
- The right hemisphere of the LC was found to be crucial in vicarious fear responses, with the LC-ACC circuitry playing a key role.
- Inhibiting neural pathways in mice observing distress in others led to insights on the importance of the right LC-ACC circuit in processing vicarious fear.
- Administering a beta-blocker suppressed vicarious fear responses, confirming the role of the LC-NAergic system in emotional processing.
- The study also identified upstream regions like the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and central amygdala (CeA) as critical in modulating the LC.
- By understanding the lateralization of the LC-NAergic system, the research aims to develop targeted therapies for disorders involving fear dysregulation.
- The implications extend to potential revolutionary treatments for conditions like social anxiety and autism spectrum disorders, emphasizing the importance of emotional regulation.
Read Full Article
15 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app