Young Adults with Anxiety Disorders Show Reduced Inhibition in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex at Higher Trait Anxiety Levels: A TMS-EEG Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The neuropathology of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias, social phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), has been believed to be rooted in a reduced inhibition of limbic areas by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Trait anxiety has been linked to insufficient recruitment of DLPFC mechanisms for attentional control. Despite limited research on individuals with anxiety disorders, our study utilized transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess DLPFC cortical activity and emotional states using the N100 as an indicator of GABA-B-mediated cortical inhibition. Additionally, we aimed to correlate trait anxiety scores with cortical activity.

Methods

A total of 20 subjects with social phobia and GAD and 21 subjects with specific phobia were com

SUBMITTER: Pokorny L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11918925 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature