Science & Nature · 2
Which neurotransmitter is the brain's primary calming agent and is directly involved in anxiety disorders?
Answer
GABA
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, responsible for reducing neural activity and producing calming effects. Brain imaging studies show that people with anxiety disorders have reduced GABA levels in cortical regions, demonstrating a direct link between low GABA function and pathological anxiety. Benzodiazepines work by enhancing GABA's effects at GABA receptors in the brain.
💡 Did you know?
Low GABA levels are a hallmark of anxiety disorders, which is why drugs enhancing GABA (like Valium) can reduce anxiety.
Other options people guess
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
- Glutamate
Topics
- neuroscience
- neurotransmitters
- psychiatry
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