GABA is the neurotransmitter that stops fear signals from spiralling out of control. When it's dysfunctional, each fear response carves the pathway deeper through long-term potentiation — a vicious cycle that makes phobias harder to break. Drag the slider to see how GABA dysfunction removes the brake.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter — it puts the brakes on neural activity. In phobias, GABA dysfunction means the amygdala's fear response can't be shut down properly. When the usual threat signal arrives, there's insufficient inhibition to dampen it. The fear cascade activates unchecked: cortisol floods the system, the sympathetic nervous system fires up, heart rate spikes, and the person experiences full-blown panic even when the threat is minor or imagined. Without GABA's brake, the fear response becomes a runaway train.
GABA dysfunction removes the brain's inhibitory brake on fear responses, allowing unchecked activation of the amygdala and sympathetic arousal — each activation strengthens the pathway via long-term potentiation, making the phobia progressively harder to override.