Study shows how mental problem-solving can reduce anxiety

Posted by on Feb 10, 2019 in Neuroscience | No Comments
Study shows how mental problem-solving can reduce anxiety

This fascinating study out of Duke University has shown how it may be possible to use academic-like problem solving, such as solving math problems, can help stimulate the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, and possibly counteract the anxiety response found in the Amygdala, which has long been known as one of the key centers of the brain involved in anxiety. The study also focused on increasing the brain’s reward response, which seems to provide a protective factor against anxiety. In general, those with brains that respond too strongly to threats, and not enough to rewards, seem to be most at risk of anxiety and depression. The authors suggest that there perhaps could be future ways to train the brain to change this, though they express caution as these are just preliminary results that require further research replication.

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