Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025
07:26
Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
3.7K
Stress and aging: A neurovisceral integration perspective
Julian F Thayer1, Mara Mather2,3, Julian Koenig4,5
1Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
Psychophysiology
|March 16, 2021
Summary
Healthy aging involves brain and heart changes linked by the vagus nerve. Stress impacts this connection, but emotion regulation strategies may protect against age-related decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- The brain-heart connection is crucial for overall health, especially during aging.
- Darwin noted the brain-heart link over 150 years ago.
- Aging impacts both the brain and heart, with the vagus nerve mediating their interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related changes in the brain-heart axis.
- To examine the influence of stress on this connection during aging.
- To propose a neurovisceral integration framework linking stress and emotion regulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging, stress, emotion regulation, and neurovisceral integration.
- Analysis of normative changes in brain and heart function with age.
- Examination of studies on emotion regulation and stress management.
Main Results:
- Stress significantly affects the aging brain-heart connection.
- Emotion regulation is proposed as a key component of stress regulation.
- Interventions benefiting brain health also benefit heart health, and vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Neurovisceral integration provides a framework for understanding the brain-heart axis in aging.
- Effective stress and emotion regulation can mitigate age-related decline.
- Further research is needed on sex and ethnic differences in stress and aging associations.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Aging
409
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
409
01:24Physiological Foundation of Stress
281
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...
281
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
3.0K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
3.0K
01:23Components of Stress
355
Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
355
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
317
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...
317
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
128
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...
128