You notice that your aunt, who has generalized anxiety disorder, is often restless and has trouble concentrating. Which area of her brain is most likely responsible for her responses to anxiety-provoking events? A. Amygdala B. Hypothalamus C. Anterior cingulate cortex D. Cingulate gyrus

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD occurs when an individual experiences excessive and continuous worry and anxiety about certain things ,It is caused by over activation of the region of the brain that mediate response to fight and flight stimulus and fear,the amygdala.

Its symptoms are difficulty with concentrations, overthinking ,indecision, irregular sleep patterns.

Two brain circuits transmitted sensory stimuli of fear or danger in the brain to two regions of the brain,

1. the peripheral cerebral cortex for voluntary decisions

2. the Amygdala for involuntary emotional decision.

The amygdala is concerned with how the body reacts to the effects of the stimuli in the immediate environments, the interactions of the stimuli with the emotions of the subject, and the involuntary response .

To respond to the stimuli of fear. The amygdala stimulates the hypothalamus.The latter activate the cardiovascular and breathing centre .Hence,adrenaline is released into the blood stream.The increases involuntary response to anxiety,which gives a fast response..The cerebral cortex response takes time to relay response.

Amygdala, stores memories of all emotions, fear, and anxiety. In patients with this disorder, the Amygdala is sensitive and had been adapted to the memory of fear and anxiety stored.Therefore, every slight normal event which should give any danger is over reacted to by the amygdala with fear or flight response, This triggers the two brain circuits to give anxiety-provoking events.

Intake of medication, Behavioural therapy are the mode of treatments.