PsyPost reports that controlled fear can temporarily alter brain functions associated with depression.
The study found that watching scary movies was associated with temporary changes in brain network activity that are characteristic of depression. The fact that people with mild depressive symptoms require more fear to experience maximum pleasure suggests an intriguing relationship between fear, pleasure, and emotion regulation.
The researchers also found a direct link between these changes in the brain and the participants’ emotions. Greater reductions in connectivity between the brain’s passive mode network and salience network were associated with higher ratings of pleasure. Similarly, greater activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex during the fear experience was associated with more positive emotions after the experiment.
These results suggest that the controlled experience of fear may have activated the brain’s emotion regulation systems and momentarily distracted the brain from patterns associated with rumination.
By the way, scientists have previously found a simple way to be happier.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
