Brainstem neurons add new element to ‘already complex’ anxiety circuitry
Neuroscientists have identified a specific subset of neurons in the brain's medulla that, when activated, promote anxiety in mice. This discovery adds a new layer of complexity to the existing biological circuitry known to govern anxiety-like behaviors.
Why it matters
Advances the fundamental understanding of the brain's anxiety pathways, potentially informing future treatments for anxiety disorders.
Sound the alarm! Activating a subset of neurons in the medulla promotes anxiety in mice, a study published in Neuron finds.
Anxiety is typically thought of as a set of “complex, social, environmental, biological, neurobiological interactions” involving multiple regions across the brain, says Oliver Robinson , professor of neuroscience and mental health at University College London, who was not involved in this work. So he was “surprised that you can have such dramatic effects by just looking at a single cell type.”
The role of medullary neurons in anxiety adds to a growing body of work on anxiety circuitry, says study investigator Carlos Fernández-Peña , assistant professor of neurological sciences at the University of Nebraska. “It was already complex. Now let’s add some more.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in