Anxiety disorders
You feel constantly tense, worry about situations that may never happen, or notice that your body remains in a state of high alert even without any clear danger. Your heart rate quickens, relaxing becomes difficult, and your mind rarely finds peace.
An anxiety disorder occurs when fear or worry becomes excessive, difficult to control, or persistent, and begins to interfere with your daily functioning.
Anxiety disorders can manifest as persistent worrying, panic attacks, social anxiety, or the avoidance of certain situations.
Scientific research shows that anxiety disorders can be associated with changes in the interaction between brain networks involved in threat detection, emotion regulation, and cognitive control.
At BRAI3N, we investigate anxiety through the lens of these brain networks.
Using our neuroscience expertise, we examine how non-invasive neuromodulation, including TMS and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), may help influence these processes.
What is it?
When does normal anxiety become an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety is a natural protective response. When our brains detect danger, the body prepares to react. The heart rate increases, muscles tense up, and our attention shifts to potential threats.
Normally, this response subsides once the danger has passed.
With an anxiety disorder, however, the alarm system can remain active even when there is no immediate threat. The anxiety response may be stronger than the situation warrants or difficult to calm down.
This can lead to constant vigilance, excessive worrying, feelings of panic, sleep problems, and the avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: persistent and difficult-to-control worrying about various aspects of daily life.
- Panic disorder: recurring, unexpected panic attacks and the fear of having another attack.
- Social anxiety disorder: intense fear of being judged, rejected, or criticized by others.
- Specific phobias: intense fear of certain objects or situations, such as flying, heights, or animals.
- Agoraphobia: fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available.
Although symptoms vary, these conditions often involve overlapping processes in the way we process threats, focus our attention, and regulate emotions.
What happens in the brain during anxiety disorders?
Anxiety does not originate in a single area of the brain. Various brain networks work together to recognize danger, regulate thoughts and emotions, and determine appropriate responses.
At BRAI3N, we use the Triple Network Model as a neuroscientific framework to better understand these processes.
This model describes three key brain networks.
1. The Salience Network - the alarm system
The Salience Network helps our brain determine which stimuli are important and deserve immediate attention.
Key components include the anterior insula and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC).
In anxiety disorders, the processing of potential threats can change. As a result, certain signals may be perceived as dangerous or significant more quickly.
This can help explain why someone remains constantly alert, notices physical sensations more intensely, or finds it difficult to relax.
2. The Default Mode Network - thoughts and rumination
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is active when we think about ourselves, recall memories, or imagine future situations, among other things.
This network plays an important role in self-reflection and processing personal experiences.
In anxiety disorders, changes in the activity and coordination of this network can be linked to persistent rumination, negative expectations, and difficulty letting go of thoughts.
This can cause someone to keep dwelling on what might go wrong, even when there is no immediate cause for concern.
3. The Central Executive Network - cognitive control
The Central Executive Network (CEN) helps us focus our attention, process information, make decisions, and purposefully direct our thoughts and behavior.
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays an important role in this.
This network also supports our ability to regulate emotions and consciously shift our attention.
When these processes become less efficient, it can become more difficult to shift attention away from threatening thoughts or to adjust anxiety responses.
Why is the collaboration between these networks important?
The three networks do not function independently of one another.
The Salience Network plays a role in, among other things, switching between internal thoughts and goal-directed attention.
In anxiety disorders, changes in this collaboration can contribute to an increased sensitivity to threats, constant rumination, and difficulties with emotion regulation.
The Triple Network Model helps explain why anxiety can cause physical tension, emotional distress, and concentration problems.
The same network changes are not present in everyone. The model describes potential mechanisms, but it is not a standalone diagnostic test for anxiety disorders.
These neuroscientific insights do, however, provide starting points for research into treatments that aim to influence the activity and collaboration of the involved brain networks.
How to treat
Neuromodulation: influencing brain networks involved in anxiety
Anxiety disorders can generally be treated effectively with psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication where appropriate.
However, for some people, symptoms persist despite previous treatments, or medication is not well tolerated.
Non-invasive neuromodulation offers an additional approach in which we attempt to specifically influence the activity of brain networks involved in anxiety and emotion regulation.
At BRAI3N, the collaboration between neuroscientists and clinicians forms the basis for carefully investigating these possibilities.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
With TMS, magnetic pulses are delivered via a coil placed against the head. These pulses influence the activity of nerve cells in specific brain regions.
In the context of anxiety disorders, scientific research focuses on areas such as the prefrontal cortex, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
This region is connected to other brain areas that are important for attention, threat processing, and emotion regulation.
By influencing the activity of these networks, researchers are investigating whether TMS can help reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Systematic reviews and clinical studies show that certain TMS protocols can reduce anxiety symptoms, particularly in generalized anxiety disorders.
The results are encouraging, but vary depending on the anxiety disorder, stimulation protocol, and patient.
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES)
In addition to magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation is also being researched as a treatment option for anxiety disorders.
With tES, a weak electrical current is applied via electrodes on the head to influence the activity of brain regions.
One of the most researched forms is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
Scientific studies show that tDCS can influence certain processes involved in anxiety and emotion regulation. Some clinical trials have shown a reduction in anxiety symptoms.
However, results vary between studies and anxiety disorders. Larger studies are needed to determine which patients benefit most from this treatment.
A personalized treatment according to the BRAI3N approach
Because anxiety disorders have different causes and manifestations, it is important to assess each patient individually.
At BRAI3N, the treatment process can consist of four phases.
1. Assessment
We begin with an evaluation of your anxiety symptoms, the circumstances in which they arise, your medical history, and previous treatments.
In doing so, we pay attention to rumination, physical tension, sleep, concentration, avoidance behavior, and daily functioning.
Where indicated, a qEEG measurement and analysis can provide additional information about electrical brain activity. This measurement cannot independently diagnose an anxiety disorder or reliably predict which neuromodulation protocol will work best.
2. Targeted treatment
Based on the clinical assessment, we determine which treatment is most appropriate.
When neuromodulation is considered, we discuss which stimulation technique may be eligible, what the scientific basis is, and what limitations or risks are involved.
Psychotherapy remains an important part of the treatment, especially for addressing anxiety responses, avoidance behavior, and underlying thought patterns.
3. Stabilization
Throughout the treatment process, we monitor how your symptoms evolve.
We look at, among other things, whether feelings of anxiety, physical tension, rumination, and avoidance behavior change and what influence this has on your daily life.
The treatment plan will be adjusted as necessary.
4. Maintenance
When your symptoms decrease, we look at how this progress can be maintained as effectively as possible.
Depending on your situation, further psychological counseling, medication, practicing new skills, and medical follow-up may remain important.
Not every patient requires neuromodulation or follows the same path.
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation or to schedule an appointment
Scientific Background
BRAI3N’s neuroscientific approach builds on research into brain networks involved in anxiety, threat processing, and emotion regulation.
Our research contributions and independent international publications help to better understand the role of these networks and explore new possibilities for neuromodulation.
Tinnitus and Anxiety Disorders: A Review
Pattyn T, Van Den Eede F, Vanneste S, Cassiers L, Veltman DJ, Van De Heyning P, Sabbe BCG. Tinnitus and anxiety disorders: a review. Hearing Research. 2016;333:255–265.
Read the publication in Hearing Research
Large-Scale Brain Networks and Psychopathology: A Unifying Triple Network Model
Menon V. Large-scale brain networks and psychopathology: a unifying triple network model. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2011;15(10):483–506.
Read the publication in Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Qi L, Wang S, Li X, Yu Y, Wang W, Li Q, et al. Non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2024;178:378–387.
Read the publication in Journal of Psychiatric Research
Immediate and Long-Term Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tCDS) in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Xie L, Hu P, Guo Z, Chen M, Wang X, Du X, et al. Immediate and long-term efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS) in obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Translational Psychiatry. 2024;14:343.
Read the publication in Translational Psychiatry
A Systematic Review of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Reddy SM, Rains CB, Ng VC, Kugley SA, Ovelman CM, Gaynes BN, et al. A systematic review of transcranial magnetic stimulation for generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2026;26:325.
Read the publication in BMC Psychiatry
Authored by Prof. Dr. Sven Vanneste, Prof. Dr. Dirk De Ridder and Jan Ost- 10/09/2026
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