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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Published on: December 6, 2024

Stress reduction correlates with structural changes in the amygdala.

Britta K Hölzel¹, James Carmody, Karleyton C Evans

¹Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. britta@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

|September 25, 2009

Summary

Reducing perceived stress through mindfulness may decrease gray matter density in the right basolateral amygdala. This study shows neuroplastic changes linked to psychological improvements.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Stress negatively impacts health and is a risk factor for numerous diseases.
The amygdala plays a critical role in stress responses, with hyperactive function observed during stress.
Previous cross-sectional studies on amygdala gray matter structure in stress have yielded inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the longitudinal relationship between changes in perceived stress and amygdala gray matter density.
To examine neuroplastic changes in the amygdala following a stress-reduction intervention.

Main Methods:

A longitudinal MRI study involving 26 stressed but healthy individuals.
An 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention.
Assessment of perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) pre- and post-intervention.
Correlation analysis between PSS change and gray matter density changes in bilateral amygdalae.

Main Results:

Participants reported significant reductions in perceived stress after the intervention.
Decreases in perceived stress positively correlated with decreases in right basolateral amygdala gray matter density.
Demonstrated neuroplastic changes associated with improvements in a psychological state variable.

Conclusions:

Mindfulness-based stress reduction can lead to measurable changes in brain structure.
Reductions in perceived stress are associated with decreased gray matter density in the right basolateral amygdala.
This study highlights the brain's plasticity in response to psychological interventions.