In 2018, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine had identified two adjacent clusters of nerve cells that control courage and fear control systems of the brain of the mice.
These nerve cells' clusters send signals to the brain whether the mice should act timid or be fierce when face with a visual threat. By selectively altering the two clusters' activation levels, they made the mice freeze when they saw the threat and duck into a hiding space or aggressively stand against it.
This year, scientists have found a way to stimulate humans' brains to increase courage or confidence and remove fear. Researchers said that this is a potential treatment for those who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobia, and anxiety.
This method is called the Decoded Neurofeedback, created by Japanese researchers. However, it is still in its infancy and is not effective for all people. Nonetheless, the researchers hope that other experts could help improve this method.
The researchers published their study, entitled "The DecNef collection, fMRI data from closed-loop decoded neurofeedback experiments," in the journal Science Advances.
Using AI and MRI Imaging
Researchers from the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) in Seika, Japan utilized the combination of artificial intelligence and MRI imaging in their study, Straight News Oline reported.
They observed that an fMRI scanner has the ability to present a real-time mind exercise that could be compared to previous recordings.
Using positive reinforcement principles, the researchers would give monetary reward to the person when the natural activity variation of the brain aligns with the fear-invoked response when presented a photo of a tarantula.
Dr. Mitsuo Kawato of ATR said that this simple positive reinforcement conditioning every time the pattern is detected modifies the original memory of the person's mental state. But most importantly, the patients need not be aware of the content of the pattern for the reinforcement to work.
Eventually, the positive reinforcement rewired the brain's response, so when the person has presented a trigger or a photo of a spider again, they do not respond the same way before the reinforcement was introduced.
Decoded Neurofeedback's Potential Use As Treatment for PTSD & Anxiety
The researchers used the data from five separate studies involving 60 participants, all in all in which the data was collated into one database.
According to Dr. Aurelio Cortese, the Decoded Neurofeedback method could have major benefits for people who suffer from PTSD, phobia, and anxiety. It is an improvement of traditional treatments for these disorders, MailOnline reported.
He added that with this approach, patients could be saved from the stress brought by exposure therapy or the side effects of the drugs they take.
For that reason, the researchers believe that improving this method would help many people. But this will only be possible if more scientists will be able to work on the actual data.
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