Researchers identified the mechanism mice use to overcome instinctive fear, saying it may help research for people with disorders such as PTSD, anxiety and phobias.

Two brain regions work together when mice learn to override the instinct to run and hide from a potential threat.

Every creak of the house sent his imagination spiraling into fear of monsters under his bed. His parents tried soothing him, but the anxiety persisted. One night, his mom asked, “Liam, what’s the ...