Panic in a Global Context: Neuroscience, Culture, and Crisis 

Panic is a multifaceted phenomenon that extends far beyond individual fear. The opening of this year’s theme symposium is dedicated to the diversity of panic—from its physical and neurobiological foundations to its social and cultural dimensions. From a medical perspective, various brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex are involved in anxiety and panic, working together with neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline to regulate the fear response. Yet panic is not merely an individual feeling; it also reflects the complexity of global systems and structures. In a world shaped by media and an overload of information, collective anxieties arise that influence and intensify social dynamics. The conference will shed light on the cultural history of dystopian narratives, which have always served as a mirror of social insecurities, and discuss how current threats—from wars to political upheavals—are triggering new forms of panic and shaping our coexistence. The aim is to understand and reflect on panic as both a societal and individual phenomenon from a variety of perspectives, while also examining strategies to confront and overcome it through peacebuilding initiatives and community work at both individual and societal levels.