Hindbrain networks: Exploring the hidden anxiety circuits in rodents

Anxiety disorders are multifaceted conditions that engage numerous brain regions and circuits. While the hindbrain is pivotal in fundamental biological functions, its role in modulating emotions has been underappreciated. This review will uncover critical targets and circuits within the hindbrain that are essential for both anxiety and anxiolytic effects, expanding on research obtained through behavioral tests. The bidirectional neural pathways between the hindbrain and other brain regions, with a spotlight on vagal afferent signaling, provide a crucial framework for unraveling the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety. Exploring neural circuits within the hindbrain can help to unravel the neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety and elucidate differences in the expression of these circuits between genders, thereby providing valuable insights for the development of future anxiolytic drugs.