Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
05:40
Dural Stimulation and Periorbital von Frey Testing in Mice As a Preclinical Model of Headache
Published on: July 29, 2021
Stress and tension-type headache mechanisms
Stuart Cathcart1, Anthony H Winefield, Kurt Lushington
1Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Psychology, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Stuart.Cathcart@unisa.edu.au
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|September 29, 2010
Summary
Stress significantly contributes to tension-type headaches (TTH), but the exact mechanisms are unclear. This review explores how stress impacts central pain processing, offering new insights into TTH pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Stress is a known factor in tension-type headache (TTH).
- The precise mechanisms linking stress to TTH remain largely unknown.
- Central pain processing is increasingly recognized as crucial in TTH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the literature on stress and central pain processing in TTH.
- To synthesize current understanding of how stress influences TTH pathophysiology.
- To propose hypotheses regarding the central mechanisms of stress in TTH.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on stress, pain processing, and TTH.
- Analysis of research in animal models and human studies.
- Synthesis of findings from neuroscience and headache research.
Main Results:
- Stress influences central pain processing pathways.
- Dysfunctional central pain mechanisms are implicated in TTH.
- Emerging research links stress-related central nervous system changes to TTH.
Conclusions:
- Stress likely contributes to TTH through modulation of central pain mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate these complex interactions.
- This review provides a foundation for understanding stress-induced TTH.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
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.
01:10Tension
Tension is a force along the length of a medium, in particular, a force carried by a flexible medium, such as a rope or cable. The word "tension" comes from Latin, meaning "to stretch". Not coincidentally, the flexible cords that carry muscle forces to other parts of the body are called tendons. Any flexible connector, such as a string, rope, chain, wire, or cable, can exert pull only parallel to its length; so, a force carried by a flexible connector is a tension with a direction parallel to...
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...
01:29Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
01:26Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...