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cortisol

·July 24, 2019·5 min read

Hair could be the key to better mental-illness diagnosis in teens

Hair samples from teens could help detect their risk of mental health problems. Researchers found teens with higher cortisol levels in hair samples were more likely to experience depression. Low cortisol levels were also linked to an increased risk of mental health issues.

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·July 15, 2019·3 min read

Study demonstrates stress reduction benefits from petting dogs and cats

Cortisol levels associated with stress are reduced after interacting with cats and dogs, researchers report.

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·June 9, 2019·4 min read

Posture impacts how you perceive your food

Whether you stand up to eat or sit for dinner, your posture influences how much you enjoy your meal. Standing to eat mutes taste perception and reduces sensory sensitivity, resulting in a decreased enjoyment of food.

This shows two children walking on a path

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·June 7, 2019·5 min read

Early-life challenges affect how children focus and face the day

Experiencing early life adversities leads to disruptions in multiple systems of self-control and cortisol levels, which continues through childhood.

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·June 6, 2019·5 min read

Dogs mirror owner’s stress

Researchers identify an interspecies correlation between hair cortisol concentrations in humans and dogs during summer and winter months. The cortisol levels were not affected by the amount of activity the dog had during these periods. The study reveals a seasonal effect in higher cortisol levels between humans and animals, and human personality traits significantly affected the dog's level of stress. Findings suggest that dogs often mirror the stress levels of their owners.

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·May 26, 2019·5 min read

Simple test can tell if you’re stressed out

Scientists have developed a new, non-invasive stress test that uses ultraviolet light to measure stress hormone levels in bodily fluids.

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·April 26, 2019·3 min read

How cortisol affects exposure therapy for anxiety disorders

Cortisol administration after exposure has no beneficial effects for patients suffering from phobias or anxiety disorders. Arachnophobics who received cortisol following exposure were more likely to relapse when they encountered spiders in a different context.

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·April 23, 2019·3 min read

Some women could be more susceptible to PTSD than others

Oxytocin and cortisol levels are higher in women with dissociative PTSD.

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·April 4, 2019·5 min read

20 Minute Contact with Nature Reduces Stress Hormone Cortisol

Taking a 'nature pill' of spending twenty minutes a day outdoors can help to lower cortisol levels.

this is the chemical structure of cortisol

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 3, 2019·4 min read

Stress in childhood and adulthood have combined impact on hormones and health

Stressed adults who report high-stress exposure as children have altered cortisol levels associated with negative health outcomes. Findings suggest early life stress may calibrate the stress response system in the brain, with health consequences that last into adulthood.

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·January 14, 2019·4 min read

Recalling Happy Memories During Adolescence Can Reduce Depression Risk

Researchers report recalling specific positive memories from an earlier point in life was associated with fewer negative self-related thoughts and lower cortisol levels 12 months later. The study suggests recalling specific positive memories reduced vulnerability to depression over the course of one year.