Summary: Researchers identified an abnormal link between the autonomic and central nervous system via communication between the heart and parts of the prefrontal cortex in women with generalized anxiety disorder.

Heightened sensitivity in the cardio-vascular system and the insula (higher heart rates and more intense perception of the heartbeats) and lowered sensitivity/neural activation levels within the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex (part of the brain engaged with regulating autonomic arousal) may cause the GAD suffering. Link to the full Neuroscience News article can be found here.