New Research A gene for fear Archived article from Jan 23, 2006 By Joseph Blumberg   Rutgers geneticist Gleb Shumyatsky has discovered a gene that opens new windows into how fear is controlled in the brain. The gene, known as stathmin, is found primarily in the amygdala, a key region of the brain that deals with fear and anxiety. Scientists believe that this advance in the field of learning and memory could lead to a deeper understanding of phobias, post-traumatic stress and other human anxiety disorders. “This discovery provides important information on how learned and innate fear is experienced and processed, and may point the way toward new therapies,” says Shumyatsky, an assistant professor of genetics in New Brunswick/Piscataway. Shumyatsky and his colleagues discovered the significance of the gene by using mice specially bred without the stathmin gene. Unlike normal mice, the stathmin-deficient mice were more willing to explore unknown territory and were less intimidated by sights and sounds. The study appears in the Nov. 18 issue of the journal Cell. Return to the Jan 23, 2006 issue

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