Fear emerges from chemical changes deep in the brain. Researchers found a way to stop the production of this widespread fear.
They injected an adenovirus into the brain of a group of rodents to suppress the gene responsible for GABA synthesis. By turning off that neurotransmitter, they managed to prevent the mice from acquiring generalized fear. Fluoxetine, the active ingredient in a famous drug, Prozac, prevented the change in signaling molecules, thus preventing the appearance of generalized fear in mice.