Anxiety Disorder Blog

Researchers Identify the Brain's On-Off Switch for Fear
Posted by jennifer@whatisanxietydisorder.com (Jennifer Thompson) on 1
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Researchers at McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have identified a particular protein in the brain that serves as a trigger for the body's innate fear response. This discovery suggests a new potential target for the development of new medications aimed at treating anxiety, particularly generalized anxiety disorder, a condition that afflicts millions.

In a paper published in the current issue of Cell (abstract), Vadim Bolshakov, PhD, director of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory at McLean and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and his colleagues report mice lacking the transient receptor potential channel 5 (TRPC5) gene showed diminished fear levels in response to stimuli that they normally would fear innately, compared to normal mice.

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Last changed: 6:22 AM at May 17 2009