Anxiety’s Danger Signals

The brain may trigger a fear response in safe situations when fear linked to a distressing experience generalizes to similar cues or situations, as research involving people with generalized anxiety disorder has shown. Studies in humans and mice indicate that safety signals may reduce fear when paired with a threat cue, through a brain pathway distinct from the mechanism by which fear is extinguished through repeated exposure. These findings may help explain why anxiety persists and support the development of treatments, but they do not prove that using a familiar object or song is an effective treatment on its own.

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