Findings from this laboratory have revealed that a single restraint experience elicited hyperexcitability of BLA neurons which resulted from reducing GABAergic recurrent inhibition. This view was further supported by pharmacological evidence, since intra-BLA infusion of midazolam, a positive modulator of GABAa sites, prevented the enhanced emotional reactions exhibited by stressed animals. Moreover,   blockade of GABAa receptors in the BLA, but not in the adjacent CeA, elicited a similar emotional response to that induced by stress.   Overall, these findings suggest that stress, by reducing this inhibitory GABAergic control would result in an unmasked activation of projecting neurons of BLA, generating robust emotional reactions , such as excessive fear and anxiety which have been consistently reported in animals subjected to a variety of stressful stimuli.