While no single hormone solely decreases fear, cortisol, a primary stress hormone, plays a significant role in regulating fear responses under certain circumstances.
Cortisol's Role in Fear Reduction
Studies indicate that cortisol can lessen subjective phobic fear and related amygdala activation, bringing it to levels comparable to those in healthy individuals without phobias (Nakataki et al., 2016). This suggests cortisol can modulate the brain's fear processing centers. Additionally, glucocorticoids, a class of hormones including cortisol, have been shown to reduce fear learning when administered systemically or when exposure to stress precedes fear acquisition training (sciencedirect.com). The impact of cortisol, however, is complex and depends on several factors including the context, timing, and dosage. It's important to note that while cortisol can reduce fear in specific situations, it's not a direct or simple "fear-reducing" hormone in all scenarios.
Other Factors Influencing Fear
It's crucial to remember that fear regulation involves a complex interplay of multiple hormones, neurotransmitters, and brain regions. Other factors like oxytocin, sometimes called the "love hormone", also play a role in stress and anxiety reduction, though their influence on fear specifically is less directly established compared to cortisol. Furthermore, environmental and behavioral factors like supportive parenting and cognitive behavioral therapy are also highly effective in managing anxiety and fear (NIH). Petting a dog, for example, can lower cortisol levels, highlighting the impact of social interaction and environmental factors on stress hormone reduction (Johns Hopkins Medicine).
