STRESS COULD BE TREATED EFFECTIVELY IN FUTURE AS SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ‘ANXIETY CELLS’ IN THE BRAIN

Neuroscientists in the US have found what could be ‘anxiety’ cells, hidden within the hippocampus of the brain. These cells — found in mice — fire up when the body is under any stress. In the case of the mice, this is when the animal is in a place that is innately frightening. The neuroscientists believe the cells can also be found in humans and, when stimulated, trigger other parts of the brain that cause anxious behaviours, such as sweaty palms and elevated heart rates. The scientists believe that the discovery of these cells opens up new avenues for treatment of stress and anxiety — if these cells are molecularly different from others around them, then perhaps new drugs could be formulated to suppress them.