A rare genetic condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease is reshaping scientists’ understanding of the brain’s “fear center,” the amygdala. Researchers studying patients in South Africa found that damage to a specific region of the amygdala did not eliminate fear as once believed. Instead, it altered how people judge risk, trust others, and make social decisions.
Patients often showed extreme generosity, heightened anxiety, and difficulty balancing self-interest with concern for others. The findings suggest the amygdala may function less as a simple fear switch and more as a complex social decision-making system.
Scientists say the research could transform how we understand emotion, behavior, and mental health.
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