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You know how some folks claim they would rather live with their cavities than pay a visit to the dentist to get them checked out. According to researchers in Japan, this has a lot to do with how their brains react to the sounds of dental drills and suction instruments

The small study involved surveying 21 women and 13 men between the ages 19 to 49. Based on their answers, the participants were then divided into low-fear and high-fear before getting their brains scanned while playing a series of sounds often heard while sitting in a dentist chair. Those who were terrified of the dentist showed marked differences in their brain responses compared with those who were more relaxed.
People in the low-fear group were not overly anxious about going to the dentist. When they heard dental sounds, parts of the brain called the left and right superior temporal gyri responded more than when they heard neutral sounds. This, Karibe said, means that dental sounds triggered more activity in the primary auditory areas of the brain.

Anxious people responded differently. Instead of a surge of activity in the auditory areas of their brain, Karibe said he saw a more intense response in a region called the left caudate nucleus, which may play a role in learning and remembering the sounds of the dental instruments.
Based on the results, this could help scientists assess come up with other ways that would help anxious dental patients feel more at ease.