LONDON, November 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers from
King's College London, in partnership with AXA, have initially
identified the neural pathways that control peace of mind in the
human brain. The research project could lead to the development of
new therapies in the treatment of anxiety disorders and
depression.
Preliminary results indicate the important role of the
hippocampus(1) (a part of the brain located inside the medial
temporal lobe, beneath the cortical surface) in controlling anxiety
and risk assessment during exposure to a threatening situation,
potentially revealing how it affects peace of mind. The hippocampus
was previously thought to be primarily associated only with
long-term memory and spatial awareness: it may also play an
important role in controlling the tendency to worry.
The study is being carried out by scientists from the Centre for
Neuroimaging Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's
College and aims to identify the precise brain systems that control
anxiety and fear in humans by measuring brain activation in normal
healthy volunteers as they react to a perceived threat. Previous
results using questionnaires suggest that individuals with higher
levels of underlying anxiety tend to exaggerate potential threats,
resulting in them being unable to react appropriately to dangerous
situations.
This phenomenon is known as 'behavioural inhibition' and this is
the first time it has been examined using functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (fMRI) where participants are chased by real and
perceived threats on a Joystick Operated Runway Task (JORT) - a
PacMan-style video game that is played inside the scanner -
developed by Dr Adam Perkins who
leads the project, under the direction of Professor Stephen Williams.
"This study is unique because it investigates for the first time
the role of the human hippocampus in a realistic risk assessment
situation using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These are
very exciting results and could lead to the development of new
therapies in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorders
focusing on the hippocampus," explains Professor Williams,
Professor of Neuroimaging at King's College London.
Dr Adam Perkins, postdoctoral
researcher in the Department of Neuroimaging at King's College
London added: "Anxiety and fear were once thought of as wholly
learned disease states however it is now widely suspected they are
useful responses to threat that help keep the individual away from
trouble. In this project we are aiming to verify whether or not
this is also the case in humans and this could help us understand
the brain systems that control anxiety and fear."
"AXA is pleased to support research that will improve
understanding of anxiety, fear and peace of mind," explains
Eugene Farrell, AXA Head of
Psychological Health and Wellbeing.
"These feelings are of course an essential part of human
experience but, if they are over expressed or become persistent,
can contribute to debilitating conditions such as mild to general
anxiety disorder, moderate depression and panic disorder, which can
adversely affect people's ability to function normally."
Indeed, psychological problems are one of the main causes of
long term sickness absence in the UK and, according to the
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, are estimated to cost the UK
economy around GBP26bn in staff
absence, reduced productivity and labour turnover.(2)
To investigate levels of positive or negative feeling across
Britain, AXA has also commissioned
a consumer survey using the respected PANAS scale (Positive and
Negative Affect Schedule). Findings show that the public in general
are feeling significantly less positive about life than in 2007
when the last norms were published: the average score for "positive
affect" among 2000 people was 16.03 on the scale, which is
significantly lower than the last published average positive score
for the UK at 19.48 (with a variance of + 2.89).
In the survey, a loving relationship was found to be the most
important factor in creating long-term peace of mind (65%) with a
secure job and having money in savings following with 45% and 41%
respectively. The largest contributors to anxiety were job or
career concerns (44%), people's personal financial situation (43%)
and specifically debt (33%). Nearly a quarter (23%) said the
government's spending cuts are in their top three concerns.
1. The hippocampus is a paired structure, with mirror-image
halves in the left and right sides of the brain, the hippocampus is
located inside the medial temporal lobe, beneath the cortical
surface. It contains two main interlocking parts: Ammon's horn and
the dentate gyrus.
2. Mental health at work: developing the business case,
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health policy paper 8, 2007.