attack & escape

• Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis

  A region in the brain involved in regulating stress responses, anxiety, and fear-related behaviors
• Benzodiazepines


  • Relax muscles and decrease fear responses triggered by external stimuli like the smell of a predator
• Measuring serotonin turnover


  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Blood
  • Urine
• Turnover


  Refers to the rate at which neurons release and replace serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and other functions
• Benzodiazepines bind to GABAA Receptor


  Reduces anxiety and inhibits fear responses in brain regions like the amygdala, hypothalamus, and midbrain
• Panic Disorder


  Characterized by frequent periods of anxiety and occasional attacks of rapid breathing, increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling
• Startle reflex


  The response to an unexpected loud noise
• GABAA receptor


  Contains sites for both GABA and benzodiazepines
• Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis


  • Plays a key role in the coordination of behavioral and physiological responses to threatening stimuli
• 1. hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)


  Serotonin’s main metabolite
• Benzodiazepines


  The most common anti-anxiety drugs
• Serotonin turnover


  • Researchers estimate serotonin turnover by measuring the concentration of its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), in body fluids