Story perspectives

Spanish Study Finds Anxiety Heightens Self-Blame, Alters Brain Links

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Spanish researchers found higher everyday anxiety intensifies self-blame and changes brain communication.
Higher anxiety linked to more hiding, self-attack and avoidance.
In 86 participants, stronger self-blame related to lower right temporal-pole activity.
fMRI of 80 participants showed increased left superior anterior temporal lobe–subgenual anterior cingulate connectivity during guilt recall, overlapping serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and oxytocin receptor maps and prompting authors to note the need for clinical validation.

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Story summary

Spanish researchers found higher everyday anxiety intensifies self-blame and changes brain communication.
Higher anxiety linked to more hiding, self-attack and avoidance.
In 86 participants, stronger self-blame related to lower right temporal-pole activity.
fMRI of 80 participants showed increased left superior anterior temporal lobe–subgenual anterior cingulate connectivity during guilt recall, overlapping serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and oxytocin receptor maps and prompting authors to note the need for clinical validation.