Definition
The stress response is a complex set of coordinated changes involving neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral components. At the neuroendocrine level, a complex cascade of events is initiated in the brain and pituitary, culminating in the ACTH-induced synthesis and release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal glands. Autonomic activation is simultaneously induced, involving widespread and divergent outflow through the sympathetic nervous system and secretion of adrenal catecholamines, resulting in increases in heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, as well as mobilization of energy resources. Behavioral changes are induced that promote increased attention and arousal, while inhibiting other non-essential activities (e.g. feeding, gastric motility, sexual behavior). The term stress, initially coined by in 1936 by Selye [1], described a pathophysiological state induced by physical or psychological stimuli, the persistence of which may lead to disease or death. Such...
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References
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Cullinan, W.E. (2009). Stress Response. In: Binder, M.D., Hirokawa, N., Windhorst, U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_5686
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29678-2_5686
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