Connections between brain areas involved in memory and emotion also are involved in fear relapse—the return of fear after therapy. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings give insight into what areas of the brain can be targeted to help treat anxiety disorders. While behavioral therapies can reduce pathological fear, says Stephen Maren, professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, “relapse of fear is a major problem in the treatment of disorders of fear and anxiety in humans, with a large percentage of individuals exhibiting a return of fear after behavioral therapies to reduce it.”
