What is it about?
Recent research suggests that the popular painkiller acetaminophen may also dull emotions. Because fear encourages behaviors that keep us safe, we tested whether acetaminophen changes fear-related behaviors in response to a threatening situation. In this study, 260 participants took either 1,000 mg of acetaminophen or a placebo before completing a frightening virtual reality plank walk at extreme heights. Compared to the placebo group, participants who took acetaminophen stepped onto the plank sooner, walked across it faster, and showed lower heart rates. These results suggest acetaminophen reduced fear-driven cautious behavior, raising potential safety concerns for everyday users.
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Why is it important?
Our findings suggest that people who take acetaminophen may unknowingly behave less cautiously in hazardous situations.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Behavioral consequences of blunting fear with acetaminophen., Emotion, February 2026, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/emo0001610.
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