Connection Between Fearful Faces and Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder

​The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, conducted a study to examine the effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) on the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with emotional response and memory. Individuals with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (GSAD) and a control group were shown fearful faces while their brains were scanned using an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image). The study indicates those with GSAD experienced a marked positive change between the connectivity of the amygdala and other areas of the brain. More information can be found at:

http://www.frontiersin.org/publications/24580627[1]

[1] Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014; DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.168