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Worry on the brain

A team of researchers at Caltech has identified a new neural circuit in the lateral septum that plays a causal role in promoting anxiety states. Activation of this circuit increases stress hormone levels, suggesting that it acts to increase anxiety rather than reduce it.

Coping with stress in a changing world

This collection of reviews covers the impact of environmental changes on organisms, including molecular mechanisms and epigenetic factors. Key findings highlight the complexity of stress responses across generations, emphasizing the need for integrated cell stress responses for survival.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateDec 18, 2013

Hormone levels in women using contraception affect nerve activity involved in vessel constriction

Research finds that hormone contraception affects the regulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity differently, depending on sex hormone levels and chemoreflex stress. Hormone levels influence the frequency and amplitude of nerve firings, with higher hormone levels protecting against cardiovascular damage in younger women.

SourceAmerican Physiological Society·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateNov 6, 2013

Working to the beat

Researchers found that producing music decreases perceived physical strain and increases muscle effectiveness during exercise. This breakthrough insight sheds light on the therapeutic power of music and its role in human society.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 16, 2013

Optimists better at regulating stress

A study by Concordia University researchers found that optimists tend to have more stable cortisol levels, indicating better regulation of stress. In contrast, pessimists struggle to control their stress response, especially during high-stress situations.

SourceConcordia University·JournalHealth Psychology·DateJul 23, 2013

Series of studies first to examine acupuncture's mechanisms of action

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have demonstrated how acupuncture can significantly reduce the stress hormone response in an animal model of chronic stress. The study used rats and found that electronic acupuncture blocks the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Endocrinology·DateMar 14, 2013

Listen up, doc: Empathy raises patients' pain tolerance

A Michigan State University research team discovered that doctors who listen carefully to their patients have happier patients with better health outcomes. The study found that patient-centered relationships reduce brain activity in the anterior insula, a region responsible for pain perception, and lead to lower self-reported pain levels.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPatient Education and Counseling·DateDec 3, 2012

Women react to and recollect negative news more than men do

Researchers found that women who read negative news had higher cortisol levels after a psychological stress test compared to men. Women also showed stronger emotional responses to the negative news they had viewed previously, suggesting a gender difference in how we react to negative news in the media.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 10, 2012

Organisms cope with environmental uncertainty by guessing the future

In uncertain environments, organisms use molecular processes to make guesses about the future, according to a study. Genetic identical individuals exhibit variation in stress responses due to random decisions, which is beneficial as it reduces metabolic costs without compromising overall benefits.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateAug 16, 2012

Exposure to violence has long-term stress effects among adolescents

A study by Penn State researchers has found that exposure to violence among adolescents can have lasting physical stress response effects up to a year after the exposure. Cortisol levels were found to be lower in males with higher exposure to violence, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation to suppress cortisol levels.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateJul 3, 2012

Today's environment influences behavior generations later

Researchers found that rats exposed to vinclozolin as fetuses showed increased anxiety, sensitivity to stress, and altered brain activity in their third-generation offspring. This study suggests epigenetic transgenerational inheritance may play a role in the development of post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental disorders.

SourceWashington State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2012

Expensive egos

Researchers found that unhealthy narcissism is more than twice as large a predictor of cortisol in males as in females, indicating chronic HPA axis activation. The study suggests that societal definitions of masculinity may contribute to the physiological effects of narcissism on men.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 23, 2012

Stress response predictor in police officers may indicate those at high risk for PTSD

A study led by Dr. Charles Marmar found that police recruits with higher cortisol awakening responses were more likely to experience acute stress symptoms in response to trauma years later. The study suggests that measuring cortisol levels could be a potential indicator for identifying those at high risk for PTSD.

How chronic stress short-circuits parenting

A study from the University of Rochester found that chronic stress disrupts a mother's natural stress response, leading to problematic parenting behaviors. Mothers with higher depressive symptoms exhibited hyperactive stress responses, resulting in harsh and reactive parenting.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·DateOct 5, 2011