Masanilo
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- Oct 2, 2007
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In research echoing the Wizard of Oz, scientists have found the key to overcoming fear. The discovery means it might one day be possible to give people back their courage - just as Oz helped the Cowardly Lion. Snakes were used to test the bravery of participants in the unusual brain scanning study, reported in the journal Neuron.
Scientists pinpointed a brain region called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) which was activated when people displayed courage. Volunteers were divided into those who had a fear of snakes, and those who did not. They were then tested with either a toy bear or a live corn snake, a non-poisonous American species often kept as pets.
Participants could choose whether to have the toy or snake moved closer or further away from them. At the same time, their brains underwent a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. The scans showed up different patterns of brain activity when volunteers succumbed to fear and when they displayed courage by deliberately overcoming it.
Activity in the sgACC increased along with the degree of fear felt by snake-hating volunteers who showed bravery by having the corn snake brought closer to them.
Scientists find key to beating fear - Yahoo! News UK
