Scientists have discovered how to switch off our fears
Australian researchers have discovered how to change parts of our DNA to help us switch off extreme fears and switch on more positive memories
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
Fear of things such as heights, spiders, blood or enclosed spaces can be “switched off”, new Australian research has revealed.
University of Queenland researchers at Queensland Brain Institute have discovered a way to change DNA* and improve a person’s ability to shut off fear, particularly if someone has been badly affected by a scary experience.
Researchers say fear extinction* can counterbalance* fear. It involves the creation of non-fearful memories that compete with the original fear memory.
Professor Tim Bredy at QBI said while fear is important to our survival and to keeping people safe from danger, humans have the ability to block fear when it’s no longer needed.
“You still want to have that memory of ‘there’s something dangerous there, I want to be careful,’ but you don’t want it to compromise* your ability to function normally,” he said.
DNA carries the information in genes* in each of the cells* in our body about how our body looks, grows and functions.
Scientists are beginning to understand how to add or remove tiny chemical* tags to or from our DNA, which changes how our genes respond to the world around us, to learning and to the way our memory works.
QBI researcher Dr Xiang Li said the process of switching off fear could involve many different DNA changes working together to control how we respond to potentially* scary situations.
He said the research had taken about five years, and would ideally result in new drugs or therapy* in the years to come to help people suffering from fear-related problems.
“We’re not trying to disturb the normal fear memory stored in the brain, but those abnormal experiences, for example child abuse or a bite from a dog, actually affect people’s lives,” he said.
“The main thing is it’s not changing the fear memory but using different memories, or new memories to inhibit* the fear memories.”
His example was if a surfer was attacked by a shark, the DNA modification could help them feel safe to get back into the water, or could help people overcome common fears such as public speaking or being near snakes.
Dr Li said the research would not create fearless people and would still leave nervousness and bad memories in the brain, but would promote less frightening memories that come through stronger than previous uncomfortable memories.
The researchers hope to one day understand the full picture of how fear extinction memory is formed and stored in the brain.
Dr Li said this report, published in Nature Neuroscience*, was an “important step” towards finding effective treatments for a variety of mental* health conditions.
VIDEO: Extreme fears, sometimes called phobias, can be hard to explain to those who don’t find the same things scary. Here are some less common phobias. Do you think they are real?
GLOSSARY
- DNA: carries the information in genes about how living things grow, look and function
- extinction: completely wiped out
- counterbalance: balance something up so its affects aren’t felt
- compromise: lessen, reduce
- genes: part of our cells that carry DNA and pass from one generation to the next
- cells: small pieces or building blocks that make up all living things
- chemical: a substance or form of matter
- potentially: possibly
- therapy: treatment
- inhibit: prevent, slow down, hold back
- mental: to do with the workings of the brain
- neuroscience: science of the brain and nervous system
EXTRA READING
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QUICK QUIZ
- What is the name of the university mentioned?
- What does DNA do?
- How long did this research take?
- What people treated for fears in this way have any fear or nervousness left?
- What is the name of the publication this report is in?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Erasing common fears
Divide a page into three columns. Label the columns:
FEAR
HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLES LIVES
HOW THE DNA CHANGE WOULD IMPROVE THEIR LIVES
Complete the fear chart by listing some of the most common fears you know of — for example, fear of flying — and how this new DNA change research could help people overcome them.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
2. Extension
Changing people’s DNA could lead to some other major changes. If these scientists can add and change things to alter the way people think, what other changes might humans want to make?
Is scientifically changing people’s DNA moving into possibly dangerous territory?
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Ethical Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Being afraid creates a lot of emotions to quickly course through your body, especially if you need to try and fight your fear and continue forward.
With a partner, see if you can list 5 emotions that being afraid might evoke.
You may have to think about things you might be afraid of and imagine how that would make you feel to confront your fear.
Pick an emotion and put it into an interesting sentence.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What fear would you or a friend like help to get over? What things have you tried to help manage your fears so far?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking.