Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
09:39
The Trier Social Stress Test Protocol for Inducing Psychological Stress
Published on: October 19, 2011
Effects of experimentally deviated mandibular position on stress response
Ai Amemiya1, Tomotaka Takeda2, Kazunori Nakajima2
1Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba, 261-8502, Japan. aamemiya@tdc.ac.jp.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|August 11, 2012
Summary
Experimentally deviated mandibular position (EDMP) causes physical stress, reducing prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and increasing anxiety. This unpleasant stressor impacts autonomic nervous system (ANS) function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Physiology
Background:
- Stress impacts cognitive functions and physiological responses.
- The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for executive functions and emotional regulation.
- The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary bodily functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of physical stress (malocclusion) and mental stress on PFC activity, emotional state, and ANS.
- To examine how an experimentally deviated mandibular position (EDMP) influences stress responses.
Main Methods:
- 11 healthy volunteers underwent two conditions: EDMP + arithmetic task and rest device + arithmetic task.
- Prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity was measured.
- Emotional state was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity was monitored via heart rate.
Main Results:
- EDMP significantly increased STAI scores and VAS indicated unpleasantness.
- PFC activity decreased during the EDMP + arithmetic task compared to the control.
- Heart rate showed no significant difference during the EDMP + arithmetic task, but increased during the control task.
Conclusions:
- EDMP acts as an unpleasant stressor, reducing PFC activity.
- EDMP affects systemic functions, including the ANS, indicating a significant stress response.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
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.