Shot to Brain Could Calm Fears

A study on goldfish has yielded hope for a temporary fix for humans paralyzed by fear, Japanese scientists say. They injected anesthetic directly into the fishes’ brains—which are similar to many mammals’—and thus switched off its fear center. The news could mean temporary calm for those afraid to fly, for instance.

“I think it would be great if someone needs to get an MRI if you could give them a shot of lidocaine,” one scientist tells ABC News, citing the claustrophobia that’s also a problem for millions. “If you can find out the reasons for the claustrophobia, it would be better. But in an emergency, that would be a really good idea.”
(More scientific study stories.)