# Predator-like scent activates an anxiety-related brain circuit in mice

Source: [Medical Xpress - latest medical and health news stories](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-predator-scent-anxiety-brain-circuit.html) · 2026-11-14 · Medicine
Page: https://themorning.science/story/predator-like-scent-activates-an-anxiety-related-brain-circuit-in-mice-dde4f78053b970d4
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In 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.

## Coverage

- [Predator-like scent activates an anxiety-related brain circuit in mice](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-predator-scent-anxiety-brain-circuit.html) — Medical Xpress - latest medical and health news stories, 2026-11-14

Tags: anxiety, neuroscience, mice, brain circuits, predator scent

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science