Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
07:26
Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
Chronic stress causes frontostriatal reorganization and affects decision-making
Eduardo Dias-Ferreira1, João C Sousa, Irene Melo
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 1, 2009
Summary
Chronic stress impairs decision-making by making animals less sensitive to outcomes and more reliant on habits. This shift is linked to structural brain changes in corticostriatal circuits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Stress Research
Background:
- Decision-making requires flexible switching between behavioral strategies.
- Chronic stress is known to impact cognitive functions, including decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how chronic stress affects decision-making strategies.
- To explore the neural mechanisms underlying stress-induced behavioral biases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two distinct operant conditioning tasks in rats.
- Assessed behavioral responses under conditions of varying outcome value and action-outcome contingency.
- Examined structural changes in corticostriatal circuits using neuroanatomical techniques.
Main Results:
- Chronic stress led to insensitivity to changes in outcome value.
- Stressed rats exhibited resistance to alterations in action-outcome contingency.
- Observed opposing structural changes: atrophy in medial prefrontal cortex and associative striatum, and hypertrophy in sensorimotor striatum.
Conclusions:
- Chronic stress biases decision-making toward habitual strategies.
- Structural alterations in corticostriatal circuits mediate stress-induced behavioral inflexibility.
- The findings highlight the detrimental impact of chronic stress on adaptive decision-making.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Stress 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...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
01:37Hypothalamic-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.
01:24Physiological 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...
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...