Erasing Human Fear Response? New Study
February 27th, 2009
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by Mike T Nelson · Filed Under: Uncategorized
It’s Coming!
Just a heads up that I will be having a very special announcement in the next few days here on my blog. Until then, it will be top secret. For coaches/trainers or neuro freaks, I have an announcement at the end here just before the latest study also.
New Videos
I am working on updating my You Tube Channel, so check it out here
The newer videos can be found on the lower left hand side and more to come, so let me know what YOU want to see.
Z Health R Phase in Minnesota this August and September
Just got word from the fine folks at Z Health, that the Z Health level 1 R Phase cert will be here in Minnesota on Aug 14-16 and the second part on Sept 18-20.
If you are a personal trainer/fitness professional in the Twin Cities area, now is a perfect time to sign up for the course. Heck, it is well worth traveling for too as I’ve done almost all of my Z Health certs in AZ, CA or NC. I can honestly say that I have no regrets from doing any Z Health cert and I fully recommend them.
Full disclosure: I don’t work for Z Health and I make ZERO money off of recommending the certs to anyone. I do however, get some money off further certifications for myself. I will be at the 9S Nutrition course they are doing for 5 days in AZ this July to further my own knowledge once again.
Any questions about the R Phase, please feel free to email me directly. If you talk to Z Health directly, tell them hello and that I sent ya. Email me by clicking HEREl
Below is MC’s excellent review of R Phase, so don’t just take my word for it.
What is Z-Health R-Phase: not your daddy’s joint mobility
Z Health Information on this blog
Brand New Study on Fear Response
Below is an amazing new study, thanks to Andrew Schimming for sending it to me.
I’ve been following this research since about 4 years ago now when I was taking an advanced neurology course here at the U of MN. A researcher in the class brought this topic as he was working on it with mice. Fast forward several years and now we have HUMAN data on it!
Why Should I Care?
In general, you can learn by 2 different mechanisms
1) Fear based
2) Positive based
Now this it not in a classical sense, it is just the way I divide them up to illustrate a point.
For fear based learning, it is primarily driven by the amygdala in the brain aka “the fear center.”
An example is to have an instructor teach you a deadlift, but now he says to deadlift 315 lbs for 4 reps or else he will shoot you. Ok, so this is an extreme example, but you will probably be able to do it.
A more positive based learning experience would be for him to take you through the steps of learning a deadlift by using positive exercise cues. So instead of putting a gun to your head or yelling “YOU SUCK”, the coach would show you the CORRECT way to do the lift and address areas of the lift where you can improve.
Both methods will work, but at what cost? Everything has a cost. My argument is that learning via positive based emotion will have a much lower cost and long term will be better. You may deadlift 315 lb for reps, but you may not get out of bed the next day if it is your first time and you are not Andy Bolton (world record deadlift holder who was rumored to have deadlifted 500lbs the first time he ever did the lift–that bastard!).
The amazing part about this study below is that it hints at a mechanism that may decrease the cost of fear based learning. This could have huge implications for post traumatic stress disorder also as the memories stored could be “retrieved” later with a much lower cost (less anxiety, stress, etc).
Anyone Want More? (Coaches Read Here)
If people are interested in coaching cues based on neurology, let me know. I have a whole presentation already completed. It literally took me quite some time to pull all the literature, do some experiments myself, consult with other really smart trainers and steal their ideas (hey, you think I come up with all of this stuff on my own).
If you are interested, drop a note in the comments section or email me directly. I have not seen this material presented anywhere else and feel it is very valuable.
Beyond extinction: erasing human fear responses and preventing the return of fear
Merel Kindt1, Marieke Soeter1 & Bram Vervliet1
Abstract Animal studies have shown that fear memories can change when recalled, a process referred to as reconsolidation. We found that oral administration of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol before memory reactivation in humans erased the behavioral expression of the fear memory 24 h later and prevented the return of fear.
CONCLUSION: Disrupting the reconsolidation of fear memory opens up new avenues for providing a long-term cure for patients with emotional disorders.
Comments RSS 
yes i bloody want more. And please revisit that last post to suggest R phase drills for the pistol – what are you thinking?
Now here’s something cool: i have to check this but alan dix set up a wee learning algorithm as as an experiment, and adding in “worry” to the results helped refine the machines learning i think more than contentment. I’d like to hook up both him and these findings to see if the algo better matches this, learning improves.
any chance of you and yours coming to the UK?
Thanks MC! Sounds like a very interesting study–let me know what you find out if you learn more.
I would love to present in the UK. Know anyone that would foot the bill? I have 3 presentations already to go and can do custom ones (depending on the topic of course).
For those that sent me emails about further info–much appreciated and I am talking it over with someone else right now. If it all goes well we will film it for a DVD. No final word yet, so stay tuned.
Rock on
Mike N
Thanks for all the great research info I would love more on the fear study
All the Best
Paul Steele
paul@manofsteelesports.com
Thank Paul! I will hopefully have more info in a few weeks.
In the meantime, here is a teaser
Higher tension = great potential for higher threat (fear)= increased amygdala response, so more “fear mediated” learning.
Thoughts?
Mike N
sooo if strength is a skill and higher tension creates more strength is this type of training more fear mediated. and if higher levels of deliberate practice create more mylenization which in turn creates better motor patterns is deliberate practice fear mediated. would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Good thinking!
I don’t think deliberate practice is either way, I think it depends on your state.
If you are AFRAID (too much threat), then yes I think it is more fear mediated. If you are relaxed and feel “good” then it is more dopamine (feel good transmitter) mediated.
My buddy Frankie Faires like to say “state before skills” which is right on.
Make any sense?
Thoughts?
Mike N
Thanks Mike
really like the comment from your friend Frankie “state before skills” it reinforces my thoughts on skill training. cant wait to see the research on this. keep up the good work!
Paul
Thanks Paul! Stay tuned for more info soon
Rock on
Mike N
Fear and sadness lead to anxiety. One should try and avoid the cause of sadness and fear.
Some other natural anxiety remedies to look into are St.John’s Wort, SAMe, L-Theanine, and Tryptophan. There’s also cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and programs like Panic Away and The Linden Method, to name a few. Hope this helps!
Mike,
We’ve been measuring ‘fear-avoidance beliefs’ in chronic pain patients in the clinic now for several years and we’re finding that…
1) fear-avoidance beliefs are NORMALLY elevated in the acute phase of an injury (or following surgery)
2) fear-avoidance beliefs NORMALLY declines with the passage of time as movement normalizes (with healing, therapy or both).
3) fear-avoidance beliefs are persistently elevated in a sub-set of the population and these are the folks that are believed to be at high risk for future, disabling musculoskeletal conditions like LBP, arthritis and other activity-related conditions.
4) inappropriately elevated fear-avoidance beliefs can be treated by physical therapists (or trainers) by “brief, psycho-educational interventions” aimed at increasing a persons “pain/fear confrontation” behaviors.
5) fear-avoidance beliefs can be instilled, by doctors, physical therapists, trainers, etc by instructing people…
“If it hurts, DON’T move it”
6) Perhaps one of the most damaging and far-reaching instructions issued to the American public has been the blanket label applied to every piece of exercise equipment sold…
“Check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program…”
Tim Richardson, PT
http://www.PhysicalTherapyDiagnosis.com
TimRichPT@PhysicalTherapyDiagnosis.com
Hi there Tim!
Thanks for the great comments! Very cool that you are looking for those things! A few questions
2) I assume it drop since their function improves?
3) Are these folks less functional?
4) Any examples of how this would be done?
5) If we don’t want people to move through pain, what would you recommend as a work around?
6) Yes! Like most doctors know anything about exercise! If they do, they took the time to learn it post med school since it is not taught.
Thanks again Tim! Great stuff!!
Rock on
Mike T Nelson