- published: 09 Nov 2015
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Chronic stress is the response to emotional pressure suffered for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. It involves an endocrine system response in which occurs a release of corticosteroids. If this continues for a long time, it can cause damage to an individual's physical and mental health.
Animals exposed to distressing events over which they have no control respond by releasing of corticosteroids. These, if prolonged, lead to structural changes in their brains. Changes happen to neurons and their synapses in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. These produce impairments in working memory and spatial memory, as well as increased aggression.
Linked to impairment of the medial prefrontal cortex are deficits in the part of the striatum with which it is linked. This can bias decision-making strategies, as affected individuals shift from flexible behavior to one dominated by habit. Changes also occur to dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal cortex.