A new study shows the brain can learn fear not only from direct experiences but also by making inferences. This challenges how we understand emotional learning and could influence future treatments for anxiety and trauma disorders. Published in Nature on May 14, the research from the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan demonstrates how higher-order emotional learning occurs in the brain, offering insights for neuroscience and mental health care worldwide.
For Thai audiences, the findings are particularly relevant amid rising anxiety and trauma-related concerns in the country. Understanding that fear can be learned through indirect cues—without a single negative event—opens doors for more nuanced therapies and public health strategies in Thailand, where mental health stigma remains a barrier to care. Data from Thailand’s health authorities underscore the importance of accessible mental health resources in a changing social and economic landscape.
The researchers conducted a rat experiment to mirror how humans might infer fear. A neutral sound and image were paired, then the image was linked to an unpleasant experience. The next day, the sound alone elicited fear behaviors in rats, such as freezing, even though the sound had never directly caused harm. This showed that animals (and by extension humans) can form an internal model that links cues through prior knowledge, enabling fear via inference.
Central to this process is the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain area tied to reasoning and emotion. Using calcium imaging and optogenetics, the team observed neuron activity in the mPFC as learning occurred and memories were recalled. Neurons responsive to both sound and image fired strongly only when the pairing had occurred, indicating the mPFC “tagged” neurons during the initial pairing to support indirect fear links.
Disrupting the mPFC during learning impaired inferred fear formation, while direct fear learning remained intact. When communication from the mPFC to the amygdala—a key emotion center—was blocked during recall, rats failed to show fear to the inferred cue, despite the direct cue remaining effective. These results pinpoint the mPFC as a neural hub for higher-order fear learning.
The study’s lead scientist notes that traditional aversive learning emphasizes direct experiences stored in the amygdala, but the new findings highlight the mPFC as crucial for human-like emotions that rely on internal models. This could reshape how researchers approach mood and anxiety disorders, as many conditions involve fear responses that extend beyond a single traumatic event.
In Thailand, where anxiety and PTSD rates are a growing concern, this research offers a neuroscientific explanation for fear responses to reminders without new trauma. Clinicians and policymakers can use these insights to design targeted cognitive therapies and public awareness campaigns, aiming to prevent and treat emotionally complex fear more effectively. Thailand’s mental health landscape benefits from integrating neuroscience with culturally sensitive care approaches.
Culturally, Thai perspectives on fear have long blended spiritual and psychological understandings. Buddhist practices emphasizing mindfulness resonate with modern neuroscience’s emphasis on retraining thought patterns. The study complements these beliefs by explaining the brain’s biological pathways that generate and regulate fear, suggesting a holistic approach that respects tradition while embracing science.
Looking ahead, researchers see opportunities for brain-based therapies that target the mPFC, including non-invasive stimulation and novel medications, to disrupt maladaptive fear inferences. While human studies are needed, the framework could guide clinical trials in Thailand to test new, culturally appropriate interventions for anxiety and trauma-related conditions.
For readers, the message is practical: fears can be learned indirectly, sometimes without a clear traumatic event. If fear or anxiety around certain cues interferes with daily life, seek support from trusted mental health professionals or evidence-based mindfulness therapies that help rewire brain associations.
This research invites Thailand to deepen conversations about emotional learning, blending traditional wisdom with scientific advances to prevent and heal psychological distress. Prioritizing mental health in families, schools, workplaces, and public policy remains more important than ever. With new insights into the brain’s power of inference, Thailand is better prepared to build resilience and well-being for all.