Cambridge scientists reveal how subconscious brain training can cure phobias

Whether it is a phobia of spiders or a traumatic event in the past, the effects of fear can reverberate through a person's life. But with the right training we can rid ourselves of them, according to a study. Researchers have found a method for tricking the brain into letting go of specific fears, which they claim could lead to new treatments for phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By combining functional brain imaging with artificial intelligence, researchers have been able to zero in on memories related to fear and retrain them. For people suffering from phobias, a common course of treatment is aversion therapy, bringing someone into contact with their fear. In the case of spiders, a person could be gradually introduced to the arachnids through photos, images and eventually the real thing, learning that their fear is far greater than any actual risk a spider poses.