Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the United States have identified a key player in panic attacks within the lateral parabrachial nucleus, often called the brain’s alarm center. This compact region helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. The findings appear in Nature Neuroscience, underscoring a brainwide network that shapes both emotional experience and physical symptoms during panic episodes.
In exploring what triggers intense anxiety in panic-prone individuals, scientists studied mouse brains to trace the precise circuits involved. While the amygdala—long regarded as the brain’s fear hub—receives much attention in panic research, the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL), tucked in the brainstem, also emerges as a contributor to both the emotional upheaval and bodily reactions seen in panic disorder.
The researchers report that the PBL generates the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide), a molecule known to orchestrate stress responses across neural systems. This discovery helps connect the emotional and physiological threads of panic through a single signaling pathway.
Using a panic-like scenario in mice, the team observed activation of PACAP-expressing neurons during the episode. Once activated, these neurons release PACAP into a neighboring brain region called the dorsal nucleus, which houses PACAP receptors. When researchers selectively targeted neurons bearing these receptors, the animals exhibited rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, and panic-like behaviors, linking this receptor network directly to the hallmark symptoms of a panic attack.
These findings open the door to potential new interventions aimed at PACAP signaling. By dampening this pathway, it may be possible to reduce the frequency or severity of panic and anxiety episodes. In this light, pharmaceutical research in North America, including Canada and the United States, could explore PACAP inhibitors or receptor blockers as novel therapeutic options for patients with panic disorder and related stress disorders.
Experts emphasize that translating these results to human treatment will require careful clinical studies, given the brain’s complex balance of pathways that regulate stress and autonomic function. Still, the study provides a concrete target for drug development and a clearer map of how panic manifests in both mind and body, which could refine how clinicians assess and treat panic disorders in diverse patient populations across North America.
From a broader perspective, scientists note that stress-related illnesses are not limited to acute episodes. Chronic stress can shape neural circuits over time, influencing health outcomes in Canada, the United States, and beyond. Understanding PACAP’s role in the PBL helps explain why some individuals experience rapid physiological changes in the face of fear and why certain people are more prone to panic under stress. This research thus adds a crucial layer to the evolving picture of how the brain coordinates emotional experience with bodily responses, informing both prevention and treatment strategies across modern healthcare systems.
Overall, the study highlights a distinct pathway by which panic can arise in the brain, supporting the idea that multiple regions contribute to the full range of symptoms. The potential to intercept PACAP signaling offers a promising avenue for new therapies, with ongoing work needed to determine safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes in human patients.