CCNP Seminar: Alex Shackman, PhD (University of Maryland)

“The Nature and the Neurobiology of Anxiety”

Speaker: Alexander Shackman, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland

Date and Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10-11 AM

Zoom: https://princeton.zoom.us/j/6397147065

Abstract: Anxiety—widely conceptualized as a sustained state of heightened distress and arousal triggered by uncertain threat—is a fundamental aspect of mammalian experience and a key component of the National Institute of Mental Health’s influential RDoC framework. When extreme or pervasive, anxiety imposes a staggering burden on patients, public health, and the global economy. Existing treatments are far from curative for many, underscoring the urgency of developing a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, I will highlight data gleaned from studies of humans and monkeys. Using a combination of approaches—from genetic assays and loss-of-function experiments to ecological momentary assessment and computational neuroimaging—this work provides fresh insights into the nature and the neurobiology of anxiety-related states, traits, and psychiatric disorders.