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stress

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

·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

·January 30, 2014·5 min read

Worry on the Brain

Researchers discover neural circuitry which promotes stress induced anxiety.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 17, 2013·3 min read

Discovery of “Teen Gene” Could Hold Promise for Combating Severe Mental Illnesses

Researchers isolate a gene responsible for dopamine connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex during adolescence.

this is a diagram of the sympathetic nervous system.

Featured Genetics Open Neuroscience Articles

·November 5, 2013·6 min read

Effects of Chronic Stress Can be Traced to Your Genes

Chronic stress alters gene activity in immune cells before they reach the bloodstream. The change leads to an overabundance of inflammation, which is linked to many negative health effects, a new study reports.

Featured Psychology

·October 31, 2013·2 min read

Research Finds Pain in Infancy Alters Response to Stress and Anxiety Later in Life

Infants who do not receive analgesics while undergoing treatment and tests in neonatal intensive care could have permanently altered future responses to anxiety, pain and stress in adulthood, a new study reports.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 15, 2013·5 min read

New Role for ‘Hunger Hormone’: Study Finds Ghrelin Primes the Brain for PTSD

The "hunger hormone" ghrelin, when released during chronic stress, makes the brain more vulnerable to traumatic events. Researchers suggest this could predispose people to PTSD.

Featured Psychology

·July 30, 2013·2 min read

How to Learn Successfully Even Under Stress

A new study finds the switch from conscious to unconscious learning systems is triggered by the intact function of mineralocorticoid receptors.

The image shows a sperm fertilizing and egg.

Featured Genetics

·July 8, 2013·3 min read

Exposure to Stress Even Before Conception Causes Genetic Changes to Offspring

Researchers discover an enhanced expression of the CRF-1 gene the ovum of rats exposed to stress prior to conceiving. Additionally, enhanced expression of the gene was noted in newborn rats whose mothers were exposed to stress.

This electrophysiology image shows the impact running has on new neurons in the hippocampus.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 3, 2013·4 min read

Exercise Reorganizes the Brain to be More Resilient to Stress

A new study finds exercise reorganized the brain so that its response to stress is reduced and anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal brain function.

The image shows the effects of smoking on the body.

Featured Psychology

·June 20, 2013·3 min read

Stress from 9/11 Linked to Nationwide Resurgence in Smoking Among Americans Who Had Quit

According to new research, the 9/11 terror attacks may have caused 1 million former smokers to take up and maintain the habit once again.

Featured Psychology

·June 12, 2013·4 min read

Dad’s Life Stress Exposure Can Affect Offspring Brain Development

Researchers have shown stress on preadolesecent and adult male mice induced an epigenetic mark in their sperm which reprogrammed their offspring's HPA axis, a region the the brain which governs stress response.

This is an ovary shortly before an egg is released.

Featured Psychology

·May 24, 2013·2 min read

Hormone Levels Could Provide Key to Understanding Psychological Disorders in Women

According to a new study, ovulating women may be more vulnerable to some psychological side effects associated with stressful experiences. The results suggest a monthly window of opportunity that could potentially be targeted in efforts to prevent common mental health problems developing in women.