OXTR and Anxiety: In support of the idea of a protective role of astrocytes in amygdala pain mechanisms, a recent study found that bilateral pharmacological or optogenetic activation of a subpopulation of astrocytes containing oxytocin receptors decreased anxiety-like behaviors in a neuropathic pain model whereas mechanical hypersensitivity was improved only by the pharmacological treatment; this effect was linked to increased inhibition of output neurons in the medial CeA, but it is unclear if mechanistic analyses were performed in pain model.