Neural Circuits of Fear and Anxiety: Insights from a Neuroethological Perspective.

The predatory imminence continuum (PIC) of antipredator defensive behavior has been a helpful strategy for modeling anxiety and fear-related disorders in nonclinical research. The PIC is divided into three different sequential stages that reflect defensive behavioral strategy in response to predatory imminence. However, the PIC was experimentally addressed using a series of shock-based fear conditioning experiments rather than predatory threats.