https://neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-terms/stress/ Neuroscience News provides research news for neuroscience, neurology, psychology, AI, brain science, mental health, robotics and cognitive sciences. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:49:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://neurosciencenews.com/files/2020/08/cropped-Neuroscience-News-Site-Icon-512-comp-32x32.jpg https://neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-terms/stress/ 32 32 66008408 https://neurosciencenews.com/cortisol-navigation-grid-cells-30311/ https://neurosciencenews.com/cortisol-navigation-grid-cells-30311/#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:49:41 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=115426 New research proves that stress hormones "blur" the brain's internal coordinate system, revealing how cortisol destabilizes the regions first affected by Alzheimer's]]> https://neurosciencenews.com/cortisol-navigation-grid-cells-30311/feed/ 0 115426 https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-itch-hypothalamus-30175/ https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-itch-hypothalamus-30175/#respond Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:50:53 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=114911 In a crisis, the last thing you want to do is scratch. Scientists discover the brain's "mute button" that silences itch during stress—and why it fails in chronic conditions.]]> https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-itch-hypothalamus-30175/feed/ 0 114911 https://neurosciencenews.com/emotional-stress-sleep-30064/ Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:15:31 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=114421 A new study uncovers a precise brain pathway that rapidly converts emotional stress into sudden wakefulness during NREM sleep. Researchers found that GABAergic neurons in the BNST activate glutamatergic neurons in the DpMe, causing immediate arousal. ]]> 114421 https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-cannabis-use-disorder-30040/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:04:04 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=114334 New research shows that rats with naturally higher baseline stress hormone levels are significantly more likely to self-administer cannabis vapor. Over several weeks, rats were allowed to nose-poke for cannabis, and those with elevated corticosterone displayed the strongest drug-seeking behavior. ]]> 114334 https://neurosciencenews.com/ai-strss-body-29987/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:06:33 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=114122 Researchers developed an AI tool that detects chronic stress by measuring adrenal gland volume on routine chest CT scans. This biomarker aligns with cortisol levels, stress questionnaires, and future cardiovascular outcomes, offering the first imaging-based method to quantify stress load in the body.]]> 114122 https://neurosciencenews.com/choline-obesity-memory-29981/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 20:09:29 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=114099 New research shows that young adults with obesity already display biological patterns associated with liver stress, chronic inflammation, and early neural injury—changes typically seen in older adults with cognitive impairment. Participants with obesity also had unusually low blood choline levels, a nutrient critical for liver function, inflammation control, and long-term brain health.]]> 114099 https://neurosciencenews.com/maternal-stress-teething-29952/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:56:13 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=113968 New research shows that infants whose mothers had higher cortisol levels during late pregnancy experience significantly earlier eruption of primary teeth. Babies of mothers with the highest cortisol levels had, on average, four more teeth by six months than those of mothers with the lowest levels.]]> 113968 https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-dementia-blood-brain-29920/ Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:01:26 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=113837 Researchers found that a rare class of neurons—type-one nNOS neurons—plays a central role in regulating brain blood flow and coordinating neural activity in mice. Removing these stress-vulnerable cells caused major drops in vessel oscillations and widespread reductions in electrical signaling, suggesting a crucial link between neuron loss, blood-flow decline, and brain-function impairment. ]]> 113837 https://neurosciencenews.com/music-nature-mental-health-29858/ Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:48:13 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=113565 The viral phrase “touch grass” may be more than internet humor—science shows that engaging with nature and music can significantly boost emotional and physical well-being. A new review found that combining these experiences—such as listening to music outdoors, gardening while singing, or caring for animals—can improve mood, reduce stress, and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. ]]> 113565 https://neurosciencenews.com/positive-memories-music-stress-29733/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:46:57 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=113008 A new study reveals that recalling positive memories before stepping on stage can significantly boost musicians’ performance. Professional wind instrumentalists who reflected on positive experiences showed higher nervous system activity, greater emotional positivity, and stronger arousal compared to those recalling negative or no memories. ]]> 113008 https://neurosciencenews.com/cortisol-hair-neurodevelopment-29683/ Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:54:25 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=112789 Long-term stress, measured through hair cortisol, may help predict mental health risks in children living with chronic physical illnesses. In a four-year study of 244 children, researchers found that persistently high cortisol levels were strongly linked to anxiety, depression, and behavioral difficulties. ]]> 112789 https://neurosciencenews.com/astrocyte-depression-stress-29661/ Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:23:42 +0000 https://neurosciencenews.com/?p=112643 Researchers have shown that astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus play a pivotal role in how stress shapes behavior, particularly after early-life adversity. In mice, stress led to smaller, less branched astrocytes and abnormal orexin neuron activity, with sex-specific patterns in activity levels. ]]> 112643