Douglas researchers study the “fear factor”

Verdun, October 27, 2005 – Halloween is around the corner and scary monsters are lurking everywhere. Why is it so thrilling and memorable to be scared out of your wits? Why do we celebrate such a ghoulish event with enthusiasm and why do we flock to see the next thriller? Researchers at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre are studying how the brain processes fear and may have some of the answers.

Jorge Armony, PhD and his colleagues are characterizing how the brain detects threatening or dangerous situations and processes the information. Decisions such as paying more attention to the situation, storing the memory or running away are then determined.

Armony’s team is also studying why some negative stimuli are better remembered than neutral ones. Their recent findings showed that memory was better for faces with fearful expressions than for those with happy ones. This may help explain why we sit at the edge of our seats, waiting for the scream during those memorable horror movies. Armony can discuss his new findings and why fear is such an interesting and popular emotion.

Affiliated with McGill University and the World Health Organisation, the Douglas Hospital Research Centre is one of the largest in the country, with a team of over 60 scientists and clinical researchers and 180 post-graduate students. This team is devoted to understanding the causes of mental disorders – whether genetic, environmental, cultural or social – as well as developing diagnostic tools, treatments and prevention methods.
 

Information

Florence Meney
Media Relation
Communications and public affairs
Phone: 514-761-6131, ext. 2769
Cell.: 514-835-3236
florence_dot_meney_At_douglas_dot_mcgill_dot_ca