Breakthrough Study Identifies Brain Mechanism Behind Generalized Fear

Researchers uncover how stress-induced neurotransmitter switch leads to conditions like PTSD, paving the way for targeted treatments.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have discovered a mechanism in the brain that causes generalized fear responses, offering new insights into conditions like PTSD.
The study found that acute stress triggers a switch from excitatory glutamate to inhibitory GABA neurotransmitters in the dorsal raphe of the brain, leading to generalized fear.
A similar neurotransmitter switch was observed in postmortem human brains of individuals who had suffered from PTSD, confirming the relevance of the findings to human conditions.
Methods to prevent the onset of generalized fear include injecting mice with an adeno-associated virus to suppress GABA synthesis and treating with the antidepressant fluoxetine immediately after a stressful event.
The research opens up potential new avenues for the treatment of fear-related disorders, with interventions that can be targeted and specific.