"Groundbreaking Brain Pathway Discovery Paves Way for Preventing Panic Attacks"

Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified a brain circuit outside of the amygdala that is linked to panic attacks, which could lead to new treatments. This circuit involves neurons that produce a stress-regulating peptide called PACAP. By inhibiting PACAP signaling, they were able to reduce panic-like symptoms in mice. This discovery challenges the previous belief that the amygdala was the main area responsible for panic attacks and opens up potential for novel therapies targeting this newly discovered pathway.