NCCR-Synapsy

The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases

Low-dose diazepam can increase social competitiveness

Anxiety

EPFL scientists have discovered how low-dose anxiolytics increase the social competitiveness of high-anxious individuals by boosting the energy output of mitochondria in an area of the mammalian brain that controls motivation and reward.

Psychologists speak of anxiety in two forms: “state” anxiety, which refers to anxiety arising from a particular situation; and “trait” anxiety, which refers to anxiety as part of a person’s overall personality. Studies have shown that high trait anxiety can seriously hamper a person’s ability to compete in a social context, thus putting “highly anxious” individuals in a circle of social disadvantage and more anxiety. Now EPFL scientists have shown that low doses of anxiolytic drugs – such as diazepam (Valium) – can ameliorate this effect by increasing the activity of mitochondria in the neurons of a brain pathway associated with motivation and reward.

Full article on EPFL-News >


Reference :
M.A. van der Kooij, F. Hollis, L. Lozano, I. Zalachoras, S. Abad, O. Zanoletti, J. Grosse, I. Guillot de Suduiraut, C. Canto, C. Sandi;
Diazepam actions in the VTA enhance social dominance and mitochondrial function in the nucleus accumbens by activation of dopamine D1 receptors.
Molecular Psychiatry [ePub ahead of print], July 2017. doi:10.1038/MP.2017.135 >


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