Study Shows Courage Sparks Certain Parts of Brain
Finding could lead to treatment for fear, researchers say
WEDNESDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) — Scientists have uncovered new details about brain mechanisms associated with courage.
Israeli researchers used functional MRI to scan brain activity in volunteers as they decided whether to move either a toy bear or a live corn snake closer or farther away from them. Prior to the study, the participants had been classified as “fearful” or “fearless” based on a questionnaire about snake fears.
The scans showed that activity increased in an area of the brain called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) when participants chose to act courageously.
The findings appear in the June 24 issue of the journal Neuron. (source)
