Evolutionary aspects of anxiety disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The triune forebrain model posits three distinct brain levels: rational (neomammalian), emotional (paleomammalian), and instinctive (reptilian).
• These brain regions are crucial for strategic decision-making to avoid danger and harm, including threats from conspecifics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of the triune forebrain in threat avoidance and the emergence of anxiety disorders.
• To investigate the evolutionary basis of de-escalation strategies and the impact of negative affect concealment.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis integrating neurobiological and psychological frameworks.
• Application of the Yerkes-Dodson law to model the effects of excessive negative affect concealment.

Main Results:

• Anxiety is a de-escalating strategy mediated by the paleomammalian and reptilian forebrains.
• Failure of the rational (neomammalian) brain to manage conspecific threats can activate primitive de-escalation, potentially leading to anxiety disorders.
• Excessive concealment of negative affect disrupts feedback loops, impairing performance and leading to psychopathology.

Conclusions:

• The triune forebrain plays a critical role in managing threats and regulating emotional responses.
• Anxiety disorders may arise when rational threat assessment fails, leading to the dominance of primitive de-escalation mechanisms.
• The evolved capacity for affect concealment, when excessive, can have detrimental psychological consequences.