Fear and attraction : two sides of the same coin?

• Main Author: Muhammad Hidayat Isnin.
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Human anatomy and physiology::Neurobiology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39425
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Fear and attraction are functional behaviours selected by evolution due to their contributions in the survival of an animal species. Fear leads to avoidance from aversions such as predators whereas attraction results in close proximity to food and mates. Both behaviours have different causes and effects but are they truly different from one another? There is neuroanatomical evidence that the fear and attractive pathways in the brain interact and are in close proximity to each other. Neuropeptide transmission, receptor distribution and neural activity can influence behaviours, and drastic changes in these factors could lead to a behaviour shifting from a fear to an attraction. These shifts have been observed in the animal kingdom, adding strength that the fear and attractive pathways are not completely segregated. Although their functions are different, fear and attraction do share some similarities in terms of neurology, endocrinology as well as evolution. This article will look at these similarities and discuss them in the context of biology as well as psychology. We shall first look at the evolutionary significance of fear and attraction and then find out in what way are they similar.