New drug that helps mice overcome fear could help treat humans PTSD

By Staff Writer

Researchers from the U.S. and Spain have recently discovered that 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone - a type of flavonoid - may suppress the fear that is associated with a traumatic experience. The study, which was led by scientists at Emory University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, was recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

The authors studied mice that had been previously exposed to traumatic situations and that demonstrated symptoms of fear conditioning - or feelings of anxiety that occur after being hearing a particular sound - and a lack of control over these emotions. This type of behavior pattern is similar to the symptoms that people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can experience.

Researchers treated the mice with 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, which activated the TrkB receptors in a region of the brain that controls emotional learning and memory. The authors found that this compound gave the mice relief from their fear more quickly.