Reducing the somatic manifestations of anxiety by beta-blockade — A study of stage fright

Im, James; Pearson, Richard M.; Griffith, D.N.W.; Newbury, Patricia; Taylor, S. H.

doi:10.1016/0022-3999(78)90054-5

Cited by 22 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, βAR antagonists such as propranolol are sometimes used to treat stage fright and other fear symptoms (James et al, 1978; Brantigan et al, 1979; Neftel et al, 1982; Lehrer et al, 1987). To test whether or not intra-amygdala propranolol disrupts fear expression, rats were microinfused with propranolol before testing fear triggered by an established fear CS.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of effect of intra-amygdala propranolol on fear expression is somewhat surprising in light of the use of beta-blockers to relieve symptoms associated with stage fright and related aspects of fear arousal in humans (James et al, 1978; Brantigan et al, 1979; Neftel et al, 1982; Lehrer et al, 1987). One possible explanation for these findings is that the fear reducing effects due to the reduction of peripheral ANS arousal and its stimulating affects on the CNS rather than to a direct action in the CNS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala Contribute to the Acquisition but Not the Consolidation of Auditory Fear Conditioning

Bush

Caparosa²,

Gekker

et al. 2010

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs) have long been associated with fear disorders and with learning and memory. However, the contribution of these receptors to Pavlovian fear conditioning, a leading behavioral model for studying fear learning and memory, is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of βAR activation in the acquisition, consolidation and expression of fear conditioning. We focused on manipulations of βARs in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) because of the well-established contribution of this area to fear conditioning. Specifically, we tested the effects of intra-LA microinfusions of the βAR antagonist, propranolol, on learning and memory for auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats. Pre-training propranolol infusions disrupted the initial acquisition, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM) for fear conditioning, but infusions immediately after training had no effect. Further, infusion of propranolol prior to testing fear responses did not affect fear memory expression. These findings indicate that amygdala βARs are important for the acquisition but not the consolidation of fear conditioning.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala Contribute to the Acquisition but Not the Consolidation of Auditory Fear Conditioning

Bush

Caparosa²,

Gekker

et al. 2010

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is somehow disconcerting when I learn that even the organist in a small-town church nearby is popping Valium before the Sunday service, as is her 19-year-old daughter (my client) before singing at a wedding. The search is already under way for more specific tranquilizing agents that may have minimal side-effects on musical performance itself {e.g., James et al, 1978). But should we simply wait for this final, supposedly ideal solution?…”

Section: Wilfrid Laurier Universitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward effective treatment for music performance anxiety.

Fogle

1982

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…A piano player who was reduced to a nervous shaking wreck before public perfomances found that oxprenolol abolished the tremor which had been such a handicap to her previously, and consequently her usual anticipatory anxiety before concerts was also greatly diminished. James and his colleagues showed that the performance of concert string musicians improved after 40 mg of oxprenolol (James et al, 1978). Performance anxiety can lead to a vicious cirele of apprehensionsympathoadrenal overactivity -somatic sequelae ineluding tremor -artistic mistakes, anxiety etc.…”

Section: Beta-blockers [Ar Tremormentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Review of Beta-Blockers in Anxiety

Kelly

1980

Pharmacopsychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Anxiety has three essential elements: the subjective experience, autonomic symptoms and avoidance behaviour. Various theories are considered which highlight the psychic and somatic aspects of anxiety. Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs have been used with advantage to treat everyday stresses. These include the anxiety produced by the civil disturbances in Northern Ireland, performing surgery, dentistry, musical instruments or speaking in public, as well as examination nerves. The profile of symptoms such as tachycardia, palpitations and tremor which are most likely to respond to beta-blockers are discussed as well as their side-effects. Their mode of action is different from other anxiolytics, with which they can be combined.

show abstract

Reducing the somatic manifestations of anxiety by beta-blockade — A study of stage fright

Cited by 22 publications

References 5 publications

Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala Contribute to the Acquisition but Not the Consolidation of Auditory Fear Conditioning

Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala Contribute to the Acquisition but Not the Consolidation of Auditory Fear Conditioning

Toward effective treatment for music performance anxiety.

Clinical Review of Beta-Blockers in Anxiety

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About