Feeling anxious? Don't worry,

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<< BALTIMORE (s Hopkins) - Feeling anxious? Don't worry,

doctors think they know what's going on. By measuring blood flow

to the brain, s Hopkins researchers have identified several

locations that seem to be " worry spots, " cradles of anxious

thoughts and feelings.

In a fascinating experiment, researchers asked volunteers to

listen to two tapes. One contained soothing messages about

flowers. The other described troubles like family stress and

financial problems. The worry-provoking tape measurably

increased blood flow to parts of the cerebellum and right frontal

lobe, among other areas. Dr. Rudolph Hoehn-Saric, director of

the anxiety disorders clinic at s Hopkins, says spotting

worry spots may help doctors treat such problems.

" As a matter of fact, we already have done some scans where we

could show that in obsessive-compulsive disorders, certain

medications which are effective do actually lower the activity of

some hyperactive regions. "

The new findings make sense, says Dr. Hoehn-Saric, since the

right side of the brain is believed to control the emotions.

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