Objective To investigate the effects of umbilical moxibustion therapy on phobic behavior and the contents of norepinephrine（NE）

dopamine（DA） and 5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT） in different brain regions of the stress-model rats and explore the potential mechanism of umbilical moxibustion on phobic behavior. Methods Among 50 Wistar male rats

45 rates were selected and randomly divided into a control group

a model group and an umbilical moxibustion group

15 rats in each one; and the rest 5 rats were used for preparing the model of electric shock. The bystander electroshock method was adopted to prepare phobic stress model in the model group and the umbilical moxibustion group. After modeling

the intervention with umbilical moxibustion started in the umbilical moxibustion group

in which

the ginger-isolated moxibustion was applied at "Shenque"（CV 8）

once daily

2 cones for 20 min each time

for consecutively 21 days. After modeling and intervention completed

the rats in each group were subjected to the open field test to evaluate the state of fear.After intervention

the Morris water maze test and fear conditioning test were performed to evaluate the changes in learning and memory ability and the state of fear. Using high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）

the contents of NE

DA and 5-HT in the hippocampus

prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus were determined. Results Compared with the control group

the horizontal and vertical activity scores were lower（P<0.01）

the number of stool particles was increased（P<0.01）

the escape latency was prolonged（P<0.01）

the times of target quadrant were reduced（P<0.01）

and the freezing time was prolonged（P<0.05） in the rats of the model group. The horizontal and vertical activity scores were increased（P<0.05）

the number of stool particles was reduced（P<0.05）

the escape latency was shortened（P<0.05

P<0.01）

the times of target quadrant were increased（P<0.05）

and the freezing time was shortened（P<0.05） in the rats of the umbilical moxibustion group when compared with the model group. The trend search strategy was adopted in the control group and the umbilical moxibustion group

while the random search strategy was used in rats of the model group. Compared with the control group

the contents of NE

DA and 5-HT in the hippocampus

prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus were reduced（P<0.01） in the model group. In the umbilical moxibustion group

the contents of NE

DA and 5-HT in the hippocampus

prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus were increased（P<0.05

P<0.01） when compared with the model group. Conclusion Umbilical moxibustion can effectively relieve the state of fear and learning and memory impairment of phobic stress model rats

which may be related to the up-regulation of contents of brain neurotransmitters

i.e. NE

DA

and 5-HT.