Our response to a threat seem to depend on the balance of activity between two specific brain regions. This is suggested by neuroimaging data from two independent samples of adults in the Netherlands published in The Journal of Neuroscience on September 11. Researchers from Radboudumc and Radboud University provide the first proof that these two brain areas help to switch between responses to anticipated and real threats.
Finally, the authors found that participants who reported greater childhood maltreatment - primarily emotional abuse and neglect rather than physical and sexual abuse - exhibited increased amygdala activity during shock anticipation. This finding shows how early life stress may impact an individual’s perception of distant threats.
Publication
How human amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis may drive distinct defensive responsesGuillen Fernandez
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