Fear is processed in the sensory cortex, not the amygdala as previously thought, according to a new study.

To understand how the brain processes fear, researchers have new insight into what happens in the sensory cortex.

Fear is processed in the sensory cortex, not the amygdala as previously thought, according to a new study.

Fear is an emotion controlled by the sensory cortex and regulated by a conditioning process. It activates the sensory cortex and how we understand fear in our brain. Blocking the sensory cortex of the mouse brain, researchers were able to render it afraid of stimuli that should not normally be frightening.

While they say the findings could help in developing new treatments for PTSD, and help neuroscientists understand fear arousal and develop new treatments for fear disorders. they stress ethical concerns with using this type of knowledge.

Fear is generally experienced as an emotion, but it also has a sensory component. The study found fear perception activates the primary somatosensory cortex, and how your brain responds to fear may be correlated with vibrations in the sensory cortex. A new computational model identifies a specific network of neurons that respond to fear in mice and rats.

Humans and other animals use their senses to perceive the environment. Information is then processed in multiple brain regions leading to perceptions and behaviors, including fear. The new study is aimed at understanding how those different brain regions work together to produce the perception of fear.

Previous research has shown that sensory cortex is activated in response to other intense emotions, such as anger and disgust. But this was the first study to assess how it responds to fear. The scientists believe future studies of the sensory cortex could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults. “We’re right now studying phobias, using real-life phobias like spiders or needles and assessing how we could change those responses,” - Florida State University

Read full article here:

https://neurosciencenews.com/fear-sensory-cortex-20250/