A new brain discovery could help patients suffering from PTSD and anxiety disorder. (Photo : Twitter)
Scientists in China have found a new method to deal with fear associated with certain sounds that could potentially help patients suffering from post-traumatic stress.
Researchers from the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences' Institute of Neuroscience said that they have discovered a particular pathway in the brain that is responsible for the recall of memories associated with fear, the Shanghai Daily reported.
The particular pathway is located in the amygdala, the part of the brain that responds to threats in the environment, and the auditory cortex, which is responsible for processing sound.
To test how the pathway responds to stimulus, the team played a particular sound to mice while simultaneously administering an electric shock to them. The mice eventually associated the sound with the shock and displayed fear reactions to it being played, despite the electric shock not being delivered.
The scientists then proceeded to block the activity of the pathway with both light and chemical stimulation and found out that the fear response being greatly reduced, with the mice maintaining regular activity even with the sound being played.
Mu-Ming Poo, the project's head researcher and the institute's director, said that the discovery could open new clinical applications to replace the current drug therapies, China Daily reported.
Mu said that medicines currently used for treatment have poor specificity to target only particular areas of the brain, as well as inducing noticeable side effects.
He added that scientists have long sought such a non-invasive procedures for patients suffering from mental disorders.
Yang Yang, a member of the team, said that the find could specifically help patients with post-traumatic stress disorders and anxiety disorders, as their bouts are often triggered by fearful memories associated with particular sounds.
However, Yang said that they have yet to discover the corresponding pathway in humans, though it is known that a similar one exists in primates.
