Fear files
Witnessing fear in others may change how information flows in the brain, a new study has found which may help understand how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop in some people after they experience a shocking, scary or dangerous event, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Most people who live through dangerous events do not develop the disorder, but about seven or eight out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, researchers said. “Negative emotional experience leaves a trace in the brain, which makes us more vulnerable,” said Alexei Morozov, assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute in the US. “Traumatic experiences, even those without physical pain, are a risk factor for mental disorders,” said Morozov.
“PTSD doesn’t stop at direct victims of illness, injury, or a terrorist attack; it can also affect their loved ones, caregivers, even bystanders – the people who witness or learn about others’ suffering,” said Morozov.
Researchers found that rodents who witnessed stress in their counterparts but did not experience it firsthand formed stronger than normal memories of their own fear experiences. —PTI
