Anxiety in mice and men: a comparison

Brain circuitry underlying anxiety, including neuronal pathways and neurotransmitters, is highly conserved between humans and rodents.

“Brain circuitry underlying anxiety, including neuronal pathways and neurotransmitters, is highly conserved between humans and rodents (Hohoff, 2009).”

Assays reliant on pavlovian fear conditioning are also applicable to post-traumatic stress disorder models, so results should be interpreted carefully.

“Importantly, assays reliant on pavlovian fear conditioning are also applicable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) models, so results should be interpreted carefully (Hohoff, 2009).”

The use of rodent models in anxiety research has been consistently validated through the administration of drugs that exert anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects in humans, where they are shown to exert similar effects measurable according to the tests discussed.

“Furthermore, the use of rodent models in anxiety research has been consistently validated through the administration of drugs that exert anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects in humans, where they are shown to exert similar effects that are, in turn, measurable according to the tests discussed below (Hohoff, 2009).”

One runs the risk of overinterpreting data retrieved from animal studies when applying them to human psychiatric theory, since studying anxiety in animals requires a simplified, reductionist approach.

“One often runs the risk of overinterpreting data retrieved from animal studies when applying them to human psychiatric theory, since studying anxiety in animals requires a simplified, reductionist approach (Hohoff, 2009).”

Avoidance behaviors measured in the light/dark box, elevated plus maze, and open field assays are homologous to the maladaptive avoidance behaviors observed in human anxiety disorders, where perceived threats such as places and situations are avoided.

“Avoidance behaviors measured in these three assays are homologous to the maladaptive avoidance behaviors observed in human anxiety disorders, where perceived threats, such as places and situations, are avoided (Hohoff, 2009).”