The science of Fear

摘要

To flee, fight, or freeze? For an animal overcome with fear, that is the essential question. The answer often depends on the amygdala - a major emotion-processing hub nestled deep in the brain. In both mice and humans, it mediates behavioural responses to certain types of fear, and helps to form long-term memories of frightening experiences. However, very little is known about how cells in the amygdala communicate with their downstream neural targets to produce specific fear-induced behaviours.