Scientists Study the Link Between Anxiety and the Neurotransmitter Glutamate
Scientists: glutamate in the right anterior hippocampus correlates with anxiety — artificially increasing glutamate reduces anxiety in monkeys.
Scientists: glutamate in the right anterior hippocampus correlates with anxiety — artificially increasing glutamate reduces anxiety in monkeys.
Primarily, anxiety is an evolutionary defense mechanism. However, with persistent anxiety, an anxiety disorder and depression can develop. Anxiety also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Glutamate is an amino acid and the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. A decrease in this compound's activity raises anxiety levels. The concentration of glutamate in the hippocampus (an area involved in the regulation of emotions and memory) is very important. In the prefrontal cortex there are two zones — areas 25 and 32. They modify anxiety levels by working together with the hippocampus.
It was established that high anxiety levels correlated with glutamate levels in the right anterior part of the hippocampus. In the experiment, scientists artificially raised the glutamate level in the brains of anxious monkeys to normal. This made it possible to reduce anxiety levels. However, when area 25 was not engaged, the positive effect of glutamate did not appear. Blocking area 32, on the other hand, played no role at all.
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