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Advanced behavioral models for fear and anxiety disorders

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24.03.2025

Fear and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, with a lifetime prevalence of 15-30%. They impose a significant burden, with their annual cost estimated at more than 81 billion dollars. Moreover, current treatments are often insufficient in alleviating anxiety symptoms due to their lack of effectiveness or potential side effects, partly caused by poor specificity.

The development of animal models to study these pathologies is of key importance.

• Anxiety-related disorders can be studied using the classical open field and elevated plus maze tests, which are sensitive to anxiolytic drugs.
• Fear-related disorders can be studied behaviorally using classical cued and contextual fear conditioning, while more sophisticated models have recently been developed to better understand passive and active fear responses.

Our subject matter expert

Cyril Herry, PhD
In vivo brain
Electrophysiology expert

Cyril Herry’s laboratory research focuses on the identification of neuronal circuits and mechanisms mediating aversive associative learning. Using a combination of state-of-the-art, behavioral, single unit, and local field potential recordings, optogenetic and anatomical tracing, Cyril’s lab aims to decipher the specific neuronal elements, circuits, and mechanisms involved in the control of fear behavior and to understand how alteration in such circuits promotes the development of pathological fear behavior.

While it is clear that anxiety and fear-related disorders are a major health concern in Western societies, it is now possible to model specific aspects of these pathologies using animal models. Learn how our advanced behavioral models can help your fear and anxiety research efforts.

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References 

Rozeske RR, Jercog D, Karalis N, Chaudun F, Khoder S, Girard D, Winke N, and Herry C. (2018) Prefrontal-periaqueductal gray-projecting neurons mediate context fear discrimination. Neuron, 97: 898-910

Bienvenu TCM, Dejean C, Jercog D, Aouizerate B, Lemoine M,  and Herry C. (2021) The advent of fear conditioning as an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder: Learning from the past to shape the future of PTSD research. Neuron, 109: 2380-2397.

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