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chronic stress

·January 24, 2023·6 min read

When Chronic Stress Activates These Neurons, Behavioral Problems Like Loss of Pleasure and Depression Result

Anhedonia and depression arise when POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus become hyperactive as a result of chronic stress. Reducing the activity also reduces feelings of depression and loss of pleasure.

Featured Neurology Psychology

·December 13, 2018·6 min read

How Teens Deal with Stress May Affect Immune System

A new study reports teens faced with chronic family stress have higher blood pressure and worse immune response to bacterial infections. However, those who used cognitive reappraisal had lower blood pressure, despite the pressures they faced.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 29, 2018·4 min read

Link Between Social Stress and Shortened Lifespan: Mouse Study

In mice, social stress can increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease and shorten life span, researchers report.

Image of a depressed looking man sitting by a wall.

Featured Psychology

·February 15, 2016·2 min read

Noradrenaline Linked to Vulnerability to Depression

A new study reveals a link between a vulnerability to depression and noradrenergic neurons.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 4, 2019·4 min read

Stressed to the max? Deep sleep can rewire the anxious brain

Deep sleep restores the medial prefrontal cortex mechanisms that restore emotion. This lowers emotional and physiological reactivity, preventing the escalation of stress and anxiety.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 2, 2019·3 min read

Why stress doesn’t always cause depression

Rats susceptible to anhedonia have more serotonin neurons in the ventral dorsal raphe nucleus. However, activating neurons in the central amygdala reduced the serotonin signaling and lowered the effects of social stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 23, 2016·2 min read

A Single Stressful Event May Cause Long-Term Effects in the Brain

A new study reports that a single stressful event may cause long term consequences in the brain.

The image shows myelin, stained in blue, in a rat's hippocampus.

Featured Psychology

·February 12, 2014·4 min read

New Evidence That Chronic Stress Predisposes Brain to Mental Illness

Researchers show chronic stress generates long term changes in the brain. The finding could explain why people suffering from chronic stress are prone to developing additional mental health problems.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 21, 2019·3 min read

Pregnancy stress triggers immune response that may contribute to postpartum depression

Chronic stress during pregnancy increases neuroinflammation. The immune changes may create circumstances in the brain, which increase susceptibility to postnatal depression.