Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

62.8K
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.
62.8K
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

257
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...
257
The Influence of Cognition on Affect01:29

The Influence of Cognition on Affect

37
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
37
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

284
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...
284
The Influence of Affect on Cognition01:29

The Influence of Affect on Cognition

42
Positive affect significantly influences cognitive processes, including evaluation, memory, creativity, and social judgments. Compared to negative affect, positive emotional states promote more favorable interpretations of stimuli, cognitive flexibility, and heuristic processing. These effects highlight emotions' powerful role in shaping how individuals perceive, remember, and interact with the world.Influence on Evaluation and AttributionWhen individuals experience positive affect, they are...
42
Physiology of Emotion01:20

Physiology of Emotion

1.8K
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
1.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Elevated rates of adverse PTSD symptom trajectories in a civilian mass-trauma cohort.

European journal of psychotraumatology·2026
Same author

Circadian instability following mass trauma predicts PTSD risk.

Translational psychiatry·2026
Same author

Behavioural profiling following acute stress uncovers associations with future stress sensitivity and past childhood abuse.

European journal of psychotraumatology·2024
Same author

Methylphenidate reduces spatial attentional bias by modulating fronto-striatal connectivity.

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)·2024
Same author

Cortisol Synchrony in Psychotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder.

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2024
Same author

Stress-induced increase in heart-rate during sleep as an indicator of PTSD risk among combat soldiers.

Sleep·2024
Same journal

Anterior Cingulate Cortex Mediates State-Dependent Prioritization of Distressed Conspecifics.

Brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Hemispherotomy for Pediatric Post-Traumatic Epilepsy.

Brain sciences·2026
Same journal

When Robots Learn: Artificial Intelligence and the Next Human-Centered Era of Neurorehabilitation.

Brain sciences·2026
Same journal

The Association Between Changes in White Matter Microstructure and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Brain sciences·2026
Same journal

Beyond Ventricular Enlargement: Multimodal MRI Assessment Improves Surgical Decision-Making in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Brain sciences·2026
Same journal

The Effects of Personalized Observation, Execution, and Mental Imagery (POEM) Therapy in Logopenic Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Telepractice-Based Single-Case Study.

Brain sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

11.5K

Now or Later? Stress-Induced Increase and Decrease in Choice Impulsivity Are Both Associated with Elevated Affective

Lisa Simon1, Talita Jiryis1, Roee Admon1,2

  • 1School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.

Brain Sciences
|September 28, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acute stress impacts decision-making, increasing choice impulsivity (CI) in some individuals. However, stress can also decrease CI, showing a complex, quadratic relationship between stress responses and impulsivity.

Keywords:
acute stressaffectcortisoldelay discountingimpulsivityindividual differencesinverted Uquadratic

More Related Videos

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

13.0K
Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats
03:48

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Published on: December 6, 2024

2.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
09:37

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice

Published on: August 13, 2020

11.5K
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

13.0K
Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats
03:48

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Published on: December 6, 2024

2.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Acute stress influences decision-making, often leading to impulsive behavior.
  • Delay discounting (DD) tasks measure choice impulsivity (CI), but stress effects on DD are inconsistent.
  • Individual differences in response to stress may explain mixed findings on stress and impulsivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the within-subject impact of acute stress on choice impulsivity (CI).
  • To explore individual differences in how acute stress affects CI.
  • To examine the relationship between physiological stress responses and changes in CI.

Main Methods:

  • 150 healthy female participants completed a DD task before and after acute laboratory stress.
  • Cortisol levels, mood, and affect were measured at multiple time points.
  • A control group (n=59) completed the DD task twice without stress.

Main Results:

  • The stress procedure successfully increased cortisol, negative mood, and affect at the group level.
  • Acute stress increased CI at the group level, but individual responses varied significantly.
  • Quadratic relationships were found between stress-induced CI changes and cortisol levels.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated physiological and psychological stress responses are linked to both increases and decreases in choice impulsivity.
  • The relationship between acute stress and impulsivity is complex and non-linear, exhibiting quadratic patterns.
  • Individual variability in stress response significantly modulates the effect of stress on decision-making and impulsivity.