Neuroscience in pictures: Neuroscience of fear

Abstract

Fear is an evolutionarily adaptive mechanism that enables organisms to detect and respond to potential threats. Over the past century, theories of fear have evolved from Pavlovian and behavioral frameworks to neuroscientific models that emphasize specific neural circuits, neurotransmission, and plasticity. This pictorial review synthesizes key concepts underlying the neuroscience of fear, starting with a historical narrative of fear as conceptualized by conditioning and behaviorism theories, to the roles of different neurobiology structures, networks, to concepts of memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and plasticity. We highlight how pathological fear is implicated in disease, integrating evidence from conditioning theories, neuroscience, and additional considerations (ie. Culture and psychosocial context). Finally, we outline therapeutic approaches that leverage neuroscience to target maladaptive fear circuits. Understanding these mechanisms provides a foundation for advancing personalized treatments for fear-related psychopathology.