Anxiety may be attributed to neural mechanisms

A study from the journal Neuron reveals that individual differences in the amygala region of the brain and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VPC) may be independently associated with vulnerability to anxiety.

Previous research shows a brain region called the amygala may be connected to the acquisition and expression of conditioned fear. Meanwhile, the VPC has been reported to help inhibit conditioned fear after extinction training, which presents a conditioned stimulus that causes anxiety when confronted by a unconditioned stimulus, to break the association in the mind.

The findings suggests that the amygdala plays an important role in the development of phobias and the VPC may impact the brain's ability to ease both fears and generalized anxiety.

Programs for troubled teens can help adolescence overcome their anxiety by using individualized therapy to break the connection between traumatic events and the stimuli that trigger fear responses. Understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms that lead to some individuals being more susceptible to anxiety may help doctors make more informed choices in treating the condition.

According to the National Institute on Mental Illness, nearly 7 million individuals in the U.S. suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.