Scientists create a cure for fear

Experiments on rats allowed scientists from the University of Barcelona to detect genes associated with various manifestations of anxiety and fear. A study, the results of which are published in the last issue of Genome Research magazine, can be better to understand the nature of fear and anxiety in humans, given the identity of the mechanisms of fear of all vertebrates. This is written by El Pais in the material published on the website inopressa.ru .

According to one of the research managers of Alberto Fernandez Teruel, the study opens the way to the creation of drugs intended for the treatment of various phobias.

Specialists of the Barcelona University medical psychology department discovered a relationship between a certain set of genes called "Qtl" with seven types of fear.

During the experiment, the behavior of about 1000 rats was analyzed. Animals were placed in unfamiliar conditions - they were placed in a brightly lit open space and gave them signals that warned that threatened the danger. Then the scientists analyzed the genetic material of each animal, comparing the results obtained with the reaction to the experienced stressful situation.