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Related Concept Videos

Insomnia01:27

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
Stress Response System01:21

Stress Response System

The stress response system, also known as the fight-or-flight response, is the body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats. Hans Selye introduced the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) to describe the predictable pattern of changes that occur in response to stress. GAS consists of three sequential stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model helps explain how chronic stress can contribute to health problems.
Alarm stage
In the alarm stage, the body's initial...
Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
The Sympathetic Nervous System01:25

The Sympathetic Nervous System

Overview

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
07:13

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Published on: October 24, 2018

CHRONIC INSOMNIA AND STRESS SYSTEM.

Maria Basta1, George P Chrousos, Antonio Vela-Bueno

  • 1Sleep Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

Sleep Medicine Clinics
|December 12, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Insomnia is not sleep loss but a hyperarousal disorder. Treatment should address emotional and physiological hyperarousal throughout the day and night.

Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychophysiology

Background:

  • Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder affecting millions globally.
  • Current understanding suggests insomnia involves more than just sleep deprivation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the underlying pathophysiology of insomnia.
  • To explore the role of hyperarousal in insomnia.
  • To inform a comprehensive therapeutic strategy for insomnia.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of objective sleep measures.
  • Evaluation of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity.
  • Assessment of physiological and hormonal markers (e.g., HPA axis).
  • Examination of inflammatory markers.

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An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

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Main Results:

  • Objective data indicate insomnia is characterized by hyperarousal, not sleep loss.
  • Hyperarousal is evident during both nocturnal sleep and daytime wakefulness.
  • Psychological factors (anxious-ruminative traits) and physiological factors (stress, aging, menopause, genetic predisposition) contribute to hyperarousal.

Conclusions:

  • Insomnia is best understood as a hyperarousal disorder.
  • Therapeutic interventions must be multidimensional, targeting both emotional and physiological hyperarousal.
  • Treatment should encompass the entire 24-hour sleep/wake cycle.