S.M. (patient)

S.M. (patient)

S.M. is a widely studied case in neuropsychology due to her rare condition, Urbach-Wiethe disease. This disease has caused bilateral destruction of her amygdala, which has led to a complete inability to experience fear under most circumstances.

Background

S.M., also known as Patient S.M., is a woman from the United States who has been studied extensively by neuroscientists due to her unique condition. She was diagnosed with Urbach-Wiethe disease in her early teens, a rare genetic disorder that has caused extensive calcification in her amygdala.

Urbach-Wiethe disease

Urbach-Wiethe disease is a rare genetic disorder that often results in skin abnormalities and lesions in the brain. In the case of S.M., it has caused bilateral destruction of her amygdala, a part of the brain involved in emotional processing, particularly fear.

Effects on Fear Response

The destruction of S.M.'s amygdala has resulted in a fascinating effect: she is unable to experience fear in situations where most people would. This has been tested in various ways, such as exposing her to scary movies, snakes, and haunted houses, none of which elicited a fear response.

Studies and Findings

Numerous studies have been conducted on S.M., providing valuable insights into the role of the amygdala in fear processing. These studies have shown that the amygdala is not only involved in the experience of fear, but also in the recognition of fear in others' facial expressions.

Significance

The case of S.M. has greatly contributed to our understanding of the brain and emotion, particularly fear. It has highlighted the crucial role of the amygdala in fear processing, and has implications for the treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias.

See Also

• Neuropsychology
• Amygdala
• Urbach-Wiethe disease
• Fear
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Phobias

References

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