Fear and the Brain

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Scientists have identified the location of the neurons in the brain that are responsible for fear conditioning. The neurons are found in the region of the brain called the amygdala in mammals. The amygdala is a limbic system structure that is involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival.

Fear conditioning is an associative learning process by which we learn through repeated experiences to fear something. Our experiences can cause brain circuits to change and form new memories. This particular study was centered on how and where fear memories are formed in the brain. The information gained may be useful for understanding phobias and anxiety disorders.

For additional information, see:

• Neuroscientists Locate Where Fear Is Stored In The Brain (Science Daily)