Research
Predator-like scent activates an anxiety-related brain circuit in mice
The Brief
- A study reports that a predator-like scent activates an anxiety-related brain circuit in mice.
- The WHO estimates anxiety disorders affect around 4.4% of people worldwide, according to the cited source.
- The source says the neural underpinnings of anxiety disorders are not yet fully understood.
Why it matters
The findings identify a specific brain circuit linked to anxiety responses, which could help researchers study the neural basis of anxiety disorders. The results come from mice, so their relevance to humans is not established in the source.
Who’s affected
- neuroscientists studying anxiety disorders
- #anxiety
- #neuroscience
- #mice
- #brain circuits
- #predator scent
Anxiety disorders are some of the most common psychiatric conditions, estimated to affect around 4.4% of people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. While neuroscientists have been studying these disorders for decades, their neural underpinnings are not yet…