Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2012;26(2):282-99.
doi: 10.1080/02699931.2011.579414. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

Neurobiological correlates of cognitions in fear and anxiety: a cognitive-neurobiological information-processing model

Stefan G Hofmann  1 , Kristen K Ellard, Greg J Siegle
Affiliations
Review

Neurobiological correlates of cognitions in fear and anxiety: a cognitive-neurobiological information-processing model

Stefan G Hofmann et al. Cogn Emot. 2012.

Abstract

We review likely neurobiological substrates of cognitions related to fear and anxiety. Cognitive processes are linked to abnormal early activity reflecting hypervigilance in subcortical networks involving the amygdala, hippocampus, and insular cortex, and later recruitment of cortical regulatory resources, including activation of the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex to implement avoidant response strategies. Based on this evidence, we present a cognitive-neurobiological information-processing model of fear and anxiety, linking distinct brain structures to specific stages of information processing of perceived threat.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A Cognitive-Neurobiological Information Processing Model of Fear and Anxiety. Note: The Figure depicts cognitive processing of threat on the psychological, biological, and psychophysiological level from earlier to later processing stages. Note: PFC: prefrontal cortex. ACC: anterior cingulate cortex. Depending on the threat assessment, the errors can depict excitatory or inhibitory influences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Amir N, Beard C, Burns M, Bomyea J. Attention modification program in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 2009;118:26–35. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Amir N, Foa EB, Coles ME. Negative interpretation bias in social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1998;36:945–957. - PubMed
    1. Amir N, Weber G, Beard C, Bomyea J, Taylor CT. The effect of a single-session attention modification program on response to a public-speaking challenge in socially anxious individuals. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 2008;117:860–868. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Amunts K, Kedo O, Kindler M, Pieperhoff P, Mohlberg H, Shah NJ, Habel U, Schneider F, Zilles K. Cytoarchitectonic mapping of the human amygdala, hippocampal region and entorhinal cortex: Intersubject variability and probability maps. Anatomy and Embryology. 2005;210:343–352. - PubMed
    1. Aupperle RL, Hale LR, Chambers RJ, Cain SE, Barth FX, Shrp SC, Denney DR, Savage CR. An fMRI study examining effects of acute d-cycloserine during symptom provocation in spider phobia. CNS Spectrum. 2009;14:556–571. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms