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Corticolimbic regulation of cardiovascular responses to stress

Brent Myers1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Physiology & Behavior
|October 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Stress significantly impacts cardiovascular disease risk. This review explores how brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus regulate heart rate and blood pressure during stress, offering insights for future research.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern.
  • Stress is a known factor that initiates or worsens CVD.
  • Chronic stress and acute stress responses are linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which corticolimbic nuclei regulate cardiovascular responses to psychological stress.
  • To examine human and rodent data on the role of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus in stress and CVD.
  • To identify limitations and opportunities for future research in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of basic studies in humans and rodents.
  • Focus on corticolimbic nuclei (prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus).
  • Examination of stress appraisal and emotional reactivity mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Corticolimbic nuclei play a critical role in stress-induced cardiovascular changes.
  • Specific brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus are key regulators.
  • Existing research reveals limitations in understanding the precise circuitry involved.

Conclusions:

  • Further investigation into the stress-cardiovascular circuitry is needed.
  • Understanding these mechanisms can inform strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular illness.
  • Identifying neural pathways offers potential for novel therapeutic targets.

Keywords:
AmygdalaBlood pressureHeart rateHippocampusPrefrontal cortex

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