UT neuroscientist works on fear therapy

A neuroscientist at the University of Toledo is working to develop new methods to help people face their fears.

Dr. Jianyang Du, assistant professor in the UT Department of Biological Sciences

The National Institute of Mental Health awarded Jianyang Du, an assistant professor in UT’s Department of Biological Sciences, a five-year, $1.75 million grant to develop a method to modify fearful memories, and hopefully lead to new treatment options for mental health illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Mr. Du, who studies how protons regulate brain circuits and behaviors, found in mouse brains that manipulating pH in the amygdala can influence or control fear memories during recollection, creating a short window of increased susceptibility to either erase or enhance the memory.