However, in genetically modified mice overexpressing BDNF in excitatory neurons of the forebrain, including the hippocampus, cortex and amygdala, BDNF overexpression has an unexpected facilitatory effect of anxiety-like behavior in the open field and in the elevated plus maze, concomitant with increased spinogenesis in the basolateral amygdala (Govindarajan et al., 2006). Here, BDNF is linked to Anxiety.