While the BLA is not exclusively responsible for mediating one’s fear of heights, recent literature has highlighted it as an important brain area for response to height-related fear. The BLA specifically is responsible for the processing of fearful responses to frightening stimuli, including but not limited to the fear of falling from a very tall rock wall. It is situated within a deep group of structures known as the limbic system, which is attributed to much of humans’ emotional processing capabilities, as well as maintaining homeostasis (the body’s way of sustaining stable conditions internally), and even encoding memories 1. The amygdala is classically thought of as the brain’s center of fear and stress. If the thought of free soloing a 3,000-foot mountain makes your palms sweat and your heart beat faster, do not feel bad – this fear may well be mediated by a part of your amygdala known as the basolateral amygdala, or BLA (Fig. ![]() The basolateral amygdala is the most lateral, or external, subregion of the amygdala. The amygdala is a part of the brain’s limbic system. He is spoken about as someone who is “fearless,” and this has prompted many to question if there are differences in his brain that may allow him to achieve extraordinary feats without the obstacle of fear. Honnold scales mountain faces with confidence and strength, barely emoting as he mechanically moves along his route. ![]() Free Solo followed Honnold’s journey of ascending El Capitan’s Freerider, a 3,000-foot-tall sport climbing route in Yosemite National Park, without a rope or any other protective measures 3. Honnold has gained fame for his climbing prowess both on and off the rope, but he is a true standout in the discipline of free soloing. One professional climber in particular may come to mind – Alex Honnold, featured in the film Free Solo. Like with any athletic venture, climbers assess risk before embarking on new routes, and may quell their fears with the knowledge that they are working safely and efficiently. Some people find it exhilarating and enjoyable, while others are simply terrified. ![]() Rock climbing, both in a specialized gym and outdoors on natural rock formations, is a very popular hobby here in Southern California.
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