When athletes line up at the start of a race, the crowd often hushes in anticipation until the quiet is broken by the crack of a starter pistol. The discharge sounds like a real gunshot, yet most people aren’t filled with fear. Instead, the race begins, the fans cheer, and the blast is forgotten.
To not react negatively to a starter pistol, the brain has to recognize the blast as harmless and then shut down any fearful reactions. But how does the brain know when to ignore a starter pistol but then react to a real gunshot?
A 2025 study in Science revealed the brain mechanism in which animals are able to overcome such fears. The research could help scientists better understand how to help people with anxiety, phobias, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Brain and Fear
People are born with innate fears, like reacting to loud noises. These fears can be helpful if there is an actual threat. Otherwise, the brain has to learn when typically scary stimuli are harmless and can be ignored.
