Generalized fear after acute stress is caused by change in neuronal cotransmitter identity. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38484078/)

These scientists wanted to understand how fear can spread from one situation to another in mice, similar to how people with anxiety disorders can become afraid of harmless things. They found that when mice experience stress, a change happens in their brain that causes a switch in the type of chemicals that their brain cells use to communicate with each other. This change makes the mice more likely to feel fearful in different situations.

The scientists also looked at the brains of people who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and found a similar change in the chemicals used by their brain cells. By preventing this chemical switch in mice, the scientists were able to stop them from becoming overly fearful.

They discovered that stress hormones in the body play a role in this chemical switch, and by giving the mice antidepressant treatment quickly, they were able to prevent the switch and the mice did not develop generalized fear.

Overall, this study helps us understand how fear can spread in the brain and may lead to new ways to help people who have anxiety disorders or PTSD.

Li HQ., Jiang W., Ling L., Pratelli M., Chen C., Gupta V., Godavarthi SK., Spitzer NC. Generalized fear after acute stress is caused by change in neuronal cotransmitter identity. Science. 2024 Mar 15;383(6688):1252-1259. doi: 10.1126/science.adj5996. Epub 2024 Mar 14.