What does fear do to our vision? [Digest.BPS.org.uk]

Mem, you are also exactly on point for this discussion. I have thought in terms of a thermostat that regulates our threat response level. Some are set off more quickly than others, I suspect related to a reduction (greater sensitivity) to threat stimuli caused by exposure to ACEs. If 70 degrees is normal, but you have set point of 65 degrees, you will escalate more often than normal. What you are suggesting is that there are 60 degree set points as well as others, and that the response will vary in length based on other variables. I think you are correct. But again, I am only starting my research on Dr. LeDoux's discussion of the emotions of fear and anxiety, and how they relate culturally to our fear response. We truly have a lot to learn, and I appreciate your engagement in the discussion.

You are absolutely right Jane. Activation can last for longer, and for many, it takes time for the fear chemicals to leave the body. One point to make is that someone who is responding to a fear response can escalate the response and extend its duration, sometimes substantially. And we really don't know how the fear and anxiety emotions can extend the recovery period. Thank you for adding to the discussion. 

And sometimes, depending on the person and the situation, recovery is a lot longer than 8 minutes.

Interesting Patrick about the 8 minute delay for the prefrontal to catch up. And would it then follow the fear response could be a different length of recovery time for different ages and stages and could also be dependent on the amount and intensity of the background historical trauma?  

I really like to read about figures and data research into these kind of areas. It can make a stronger case for more cognisant/objective personalised treatment care.

Good point. I often state in my talks that the fear response, which is unrelated to the fear emotion according to research by Dr. Joseph LeDoux, redirects oxygen and glucose from the brain to where it is needed for the fear response. Paper Tigers, the movie about Lincoln High Schools successful retooling of its disciplinary process, recognized this when it stated that you really can't talk to a student who has escalated for about 8 minutes. They don't think rationally at that point. So I believe that while vision may be affected, it's more likely that the fear response prevents an intervention by the prefrontal cortex because it is literally turned off. You go on autopilot unless you can be trained to ignore certain fear causing stimuli.