The neuro-transmitter linked with anxiety disorders is :

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Gamma aminobutyric acid

Abnormal activity of certain neurotransmitters, the chemicals that carry a message across the synapse, can lead to specific psychological disorders.

Option (1) Dopamine — Incorrect. Schizophrenia has been linked to excess activity of dopamine, not anxiety to its low activity.

Option (2) Serotonin — Incorrect. Its low activity is linked to depression, not to anxiety disorders.

Option (3) Gamma aminobutyric acid — Correct. Anxiety disorders have been linked to low activity of GABA.

Option (4) Adrenaline — Incorrect. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is one of the catecholamines that the adrenal gland releases into the blood under stress, producing the fight-or-flight changes. It belongs to the stress response, not to the neurotransmitter whose low activity underlies anxiety disorders.

Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 08-06-2023 (Slot 1).

Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 16-05-2025 (Slot 1).

NCERT (2025-26): “Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour … a tiny space called synapse separates one neuron from the next, and the message must move across that space. When an electrical impulse reaches a neuron’s ending, the nerve ending is stimulated to release a chemical, called a neuro-transmitter. Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neuro-transmitters can lead to specific psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders have been linked to low activity of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), schizophrenia to excess activity of dopamine, and depression to low activity of serotonin.…”

“Nature of Stress … At the physiological level, arousal plays a key role in stress-related behaviours. The hypothalamus initiates action along two pathways. The first pathway involves the autonomic nervous system. The adrenal gland releases large amount of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) into the blood stream. This leads to physiological changes seen in fight-or-flight response.…”