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The temporal dynamics of the stress response
J M Koolhaas1, P Meerlo, S F De Boer
1Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 7, 1998
Summary
Failure in animal social defense mechanisms can cause stress pathology. A single major stressor, like social defeat, can sensitize animals to future stressors, impacting long-term stress responses.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Animal Psychology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- Social stress in animal groups can lead to pathology when defense mechanisms fail.
- Existing animal models often focus on chronic stress, not acute stressor effects.
- Social stress research offers high face validity for human stress disorder models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on social stress and pathology in animal groups.
- To highlight the long-term consequences of single major stressors.
- To discuss the implications of stressor sensitization for stress-related disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of available evidence on social stress and defense mechanisms.
- Analysis of recent data on the temporal dynamics of stress responses.
- Discussion of animal models and their relevance to human stress disorders.
Main Results:
- Failure of defense mechanisms in social animals is linked to stress pathology.
- A single social defeat stressor can induce long-term sensitization (hours to weeks).
- This sensitization impacts subsequent stressor responses.
Conclusions:
- Social stress is a critical factor in animal psychopathology.
- Acute stressors can have prolonged effects, influencing stress vulnerability.
- Understanding temporal stress dynamics is key for developing relevant animal models.