Progress In Brain Research[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Therapeutic effects of positive emotions on neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems.
El-Mansoury B, Laadraoui J, Razouqi Y … +4 more , Haj-Khlifa A, El Fatimi H, El Hiba O, Jayakumar AR
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40441780 · Publisher ↗
Positive emotions have long been recognized for their impact on overall health, yet emerging research highlights the underlying neural mechanisms and neurotransmitter systems that mediate these effects. Several key brain...
Positive emotions have long been recognized for their impact on overall health, yet emerging research highlights the underlying neural mechanisms and neurotransmitter systems that mediate these effects. Several key brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and insula, play a role in processing positive emotions and emotional regulation. Several neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, including dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin are involved emotional resilience and psychological health. Positive emotions can reshape neural circuits, and foster neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Therefore, positive emotion-based interventions could play an important role in alleviating mood disorders, improve cognitive function, and enhance social and physiological health. This chapter highlights the transformative impact of integrating the science of positive emotions into therapeutic practices, showcasing their potential to improve overall well-being. It delves into the therapeutic effect of positive emotions on neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems, emphasizing their significance in fostering both mental and physical health.
Healthy happiness: The effect of happiness in promoting brain health.
Broderick ML, Khan Q, Moradikor N
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40441779 · Publisher ↗
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines happiness as "a state of well-being and contentment". Psychologically, happiness can be defined as a state of current well-being and positivity resulting from recent stimuli, as wel...
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines happiness as "a state of well-being and contentment". Psychologically, happiness can be defined as a state of current well-being and positivity resulting from recent stimuli, as well as long-term life satisfaction and peace of mind. This refers to two aspects of happiness discussed in psychology, first coined by Aristotle, pleasurable happiness known as "hedonia" and the long-term happiness of living a good life called "eudaimonia". These early concepts break down the vaguer and complex idea of happiness into long-term pleasure and positivity. This is where it starts to get more challenging when we try to define happiness in neurobiological terms. Many regions, pathways and circuits in the brain work in tandem to create the conscious and recognized state of happiness we cognitively perceive as humans. However, happiness is a feeling that transcends species boundaries. It is a positive state of emotions that can be expressed in different ways, including contentedness, peace, pleasure, excitement, relief, joy, and more. To do this, happiness must be broken down into constituent parts, localized to specific neuroanatomical regions, and associated with specific projects and structures to really build the anatomical architecture of happiness. Understanding how emotion is quantified and experimentally studied allows the field of neuroscience to build a comprehensive "neurobiological happiness model". Here in this chapter, we discuss historical and novel findings into this emotion; we discuss its implication as an evolutionary advantage in the adaptive response, how laughter is associated with happiness, and how a state of positive well-being plays a role in promoting positive brain health.
Impact of positive feelings and negative feelings on brain cell regeneration and degeneration.
Wadan AS, Ahmed MA, El Gemaie DSAE … +1 more , Moradikor N
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40441778 · Publisher ↗
Brain cells intentionally break their DNA as a crucial step in memory formation and learning. This process allows for the expression of specific genes that are essential for these cognitive functions. While our cells are...
Brain cells intentionally break their DNA as a crucial step in memory formation and learning. This process allows for the expression of specific genes that are essential for these cognitive functions. While our cells are generally adept at repairing this self-inflicted DNA damage, the efficiency of this repair mechanism can decline with age or due to certain genetic factors. The deliberate DNA breakage in neurons enables the activation of rapid response genes, which in turn trigger broader transcriptional programs supporting various behaviors, including learning and memory. This process is a normal part of cellular function and gene expression. However, neurological disorders, certain syndromes, and the aging process can impair this DNA repair ability. When cells struggle to mend the intentional DNA breaks, it can lead to cellular weakening and eventual degeneration. The subsequent discussion will explore how positive and negative emotions influence the processes of brain cell regeneration and degradation.
The structure of sleep and how it may be altered by visual impairments.
Ball DM, Abud-Henando S, Mann SS … +3 more , Santhi N, Speekenbrink M, Walsh V
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409925 · Publisher ↗
Individuals with visual impairments often experience poor sleep health, which may impact brain physiology and function, as evidenced by altered brain activity during sleep. The sleeping brain can be categorized into stag...
Individuals with visual impairments often experience poor sleep health, which may impact brain physiology and function, as evidenced by altered brain activity during sleep. The sleeping brain can be categorized into stages: three non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages and one rapid eye movement (REM) stage, with each stage defined by its structure, that is, the duration and frequency of specific brain oscillations. Research investigating alterations in sleep structure among visually impaired individuals has yielded mixed results: some studies indicate reduced or absent deep sleep (N3), others report longer REM latency (the time until the first REM epoch), while some suggest that circadian dysfunction may play a more significant role than visual impairment itself. Sleep is regulated by two processes: the homeostatic sleep drive, which accumulates during wakefulness and is relieved during sleep, and the circadian process, which describes the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. The circadian process is particularly vulnerable to disruption by visual impairments, as damage to the retina can alter photic entrainment, the process by which light signals from the retina align the circadian sleep-wake cycle with the solar day. Visually impaired individuals often experience a drifting sleep-wake cycle that misaligns with the light-dark cycle, and during periods of misalignment, sleep quality may be particularly poor, especially REM sleep, which is largely under circadian control. Some causes of visual impairment, such as glaucoma, may be more susceptible to circadian dysfunction than others, as glaucoma affects cells in the retinal layer necessary for photic entrainment, which in turn may increase the risk of changes to sleep structure. Given that abnormal sleep structure is associated with long-term health consequences, including increased risks of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, it may contribute to the high prevalence of these issues found among the visually impaired population. Further research is needed to clarify the roles of the causes of visual impairments, circadian misalignment, and the impact on sleep structure. A better understanding of these relationships could help develop targeted interventions to improve sleep and enhance health outcomes for visually impaired individuals.
Measuring residual visual function after cerebral damage - a potential path for optimising rehabilitation approaches.
Schluppeck D, McGraw PV
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409924 · Publisher ↗
The integrity of the visual field can be assessed using clinical techniques such as perimetry that rely on subjective report, or can be quantified objectively using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the ca...
The integrity of the visual field can be assessed using clinical techniques such as perimetry that rely on subjective report, or can be quantified objectively using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the case of central lesions (e.g. following strokes), fMRI visual field maps can reveal spared regions of cortex that may be missed if patient assessment relies on perimetry and anatomy of lesions alone. Even when perimetry results look stereotypical and can be categorised into hemianopia or quadrantanopia, the areas of spared cortex can be highly variable. FMRI field maps could serve as an important guide for selecting and optimising training and rehabilitation programmes for patients with damage to central visual pathway structures. Alongside a standardised battery of visual function tests, anatomical scans, and tractography data on connections between brain areas, this would provide a much richer clinical picture. Importantly, this approach may also offer useful information for a personalised approach to visual developmental disorders such as cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Here, we survey some recent results from the neuroimaging literature on measuring residual visual function, anatomy, and structural connectivity in stroke survivors, discuss recent results from rehabilitation approaches, and put forward a potential approach for characterising visual function using brain imaging in individuals with CVI.
Visual experience affects neural correlates of audio-haptic integration: A case study of non-sighted individuals.
Scheller M, Proulx MJ, de Haan M … +2 more , Dahlmann-Noor A, Petrini K
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409923 · Publisher ↗
The ability to reduce sensory uncertainty by integrating information across different senses develops late in humans and depends on cross-modal, sensory experience during childhood and adolescence. While the dependence o...
The ability to reduce sensory uncertainty by integrating information across different senses develops late in humans and depends on cross-modal, sensory experience during childhood and adolescence. While the dependence of audio-haptic integration on vision suggests cross-modal neural reorganization, evidence for such changes is lacking. Furthermore, little is known about the neural processes underlying audio-haptic integration even in sighted adults. Here, we examined electrophysiological correlates of audio-haptic integration in sighted adults (n = 29), non-sighted adults (n = 7), and sighted adolescents (n = 12) using a data-driven electrical neuroimaging approach. In sighted adults, optimal integration performance was predicted by topographical and super-additive strength modulations around 205-285 ms. Data from four individuals who went blind before the age of 8-9 years suggests that they achieved optimal integration via different, sub-additive mechanisms at earlier processing stages. Sighted adolescents showed no robust multisensory modulations. Late-blind adults, who did not show behavioral benefits of integration, demonstrated modulations at early latencies. Our findings suggest a critical period for the development of optimal audio-haptic integration dependent on visual experience around the late childhood and early adolescence.
Well-being, mental health and sleep in children and young people with vision impairment: A narrative review.
Canavan RF, Hayton J, Tibber MS … +3 more , Dekker TM, Wood LAG, Crossland MD
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409922 · Publisher ↗
Multiple studies have shown that vision impairment impacts adults' well-being, mental health, and sleep. However, little attention has been given to these areas in children and young people with vision impairment. This n...
Multiple studies have shown that vision impairment impacts adults' well-being, mental health, and sleep. However, little attention has been given to these areas in children and young people with vision impairment. This narrative review explores the relationship between vision impairment, well-being, mental ill-health, and sleep in children and young people with vision impairment. Studies examined include children and young people with all levels of vision impairment and those with congenital or acquired vision loss. The evidence suggests that vision impairment affects children's and young people's well-being and mental health with particular links to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Theoretical mechanisms include low self-esteem affecting mental health and well-being, and loneliness reducing well-being. The efficacy of social and psychological interventions on the mental health of children and young people with vision impairment were reviewed. Psychological therapies, sports, exercise, music, art, and relaxation have all been found to have positive impacts. Gaps in existing knowledge are highlighted, and suggestions are made for future research in this important and under-researched area.
An overview of quality of life and visual outcomes in AMD.
Taylor DJ, Enoch J, Jones L … +3 more , Higgins B, Binns A, Crabb DP
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409921 · Publisher ↗
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in high income countries and third most common cause of blindness worldwide. This chapter provides an overview of existing literature pertaining to...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in high income countries and third most common cause of blindness worldwide. This chapter provides an overview of existing literature pertaining to the ways in which AMD impacts clinical measures of visual function, quality of life, and performance of everyday tasks. As well as being used in clinics, some of the tests described in this chapter have the potential to be piloted in patients' homes as self-monitoring tools, or as patient-centred outcome measures in clinical trials for new treatments in AMD. Moreover, the research findings reported in this literature review should help clinicians with patient management and expectations, and should to inform future patient, public and professional education on AMD.
Affect in the dark: Navigating the complex landscape of social cognition in blindness.
Domenici V, Collignon O, Lettieri G
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409920 · Publisher ↗
Research on the consequence of blindness has primarily focused on how visual experience influences basic sensory abilities, mainly overlooking the intricate world of social cognition. However, social cognition abilities...
Research on the consequence of blindness has primarily focused on how visual experience influences basic sensory abilities, mainly overlooking the intricate world of social cognition. However, social cognition abilities are crucial as they enable individuals to navigate complex interactions, understand others' perspectives, regulate emotions, and establish meaningful connections, all essential for successful adaptation and integration into society. Emotional and social signals are frequently conveyed through nonverbal visual cues, and understanding the foundational role vision plays in shaping everyday affective experiences is fundamental. Here, we aim to summarize existing research on social cognition in individuals with blindness. By doing so, we strive to offer a comprehensive overview of social processing in sensory deprivation while pinpointing areas that are still largely unexplored. By identifying gaps in current knowledge, this review paves the way for future investigations to reveal how visual experience shapes the development of emotional and social cognition in the mind and the brain.
HABEMO: An innovative haptic tool for investigating the bodily representation of mental states in individuals with visual impairments.
Lettieri G, Calce RP, Collignon O
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409919 · Publisher ↗
The embodiment of emotions constitutes a profound aspect of our psychological experience, shaping not only how we express but also how we perceive and understand our feelings. Here, we introduce an innovative haptic tool...
The embodiment of emotions constitutes a profound aspect of our psychological experience, shaping not only how we express but also how we perceive and understand our feelings. Here, we introduce an innovative haptic tool to explore the relationship between emotional states and bodily reactions, with a focus on its applicability to individuals with visual impairments. Our paradigm is highly intuitive, ensuring accessibility while maintaining accuracy comparable to traditional tasks reliant on visual stimuli. Through motion tracking and a 3D human representation, our system allows to capture in a naturalistic manner where individuals sense affective and cognitive states within their bodies. To validate this method, we conducted two experiments employing both haptic and visual versions of the same task, revealing a compelling alignment between modalities in capturing individuals' internalized manifestations of emotional states. Our novel haptic paradigm allows the mapping of emotions in the body in an intuitive way, offering a more inclusive and versatile method for exploring how people connect their emotions to their physical experiences. More importantly, the haptic version of our task holds particular promise for investigating how individuals with limited or no visual capability maintain representations of emotional and cognitive states within their bodies. In addition to its profound implications for understanding emotions, this innovative tool holds promise for exploring a wide variety of research questions beyond the realm of affective states, thereby broadening its utility as a versatile instrument for investigating various aspects of human perception, cognition, and embodiment particularly within the context of visual impairment.
Case studies of the migraine aura in the blind or partially sighted.
Joly-Mascheroni RM, Shepherd AJ
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409918 · Publisher ↗
Visual Aura symptoms are particularly intriguing when manifesting in the severely visually impaired. Presented here are eight case reports of the migraine aura experienced by those who are blind or partially sighted. The...
Visual Aura symptoms are particularly intriguing when manifesting in the severely visually impaired. Presented here are eight case reports of the migraine aura experienced by those who are blind or partially sighted. The migraine aura consists of fully reversible neurological symptoms that typically precede the migraine headache by approximately 30 min. The symptoms are commonly visual and include the classic fortification spectra, seeing flashing lights, stars or phosphenes, or experiencing distortions of the visual scene. Non-visual aura symptoms can also be experienced, including pins and needles or numbness on the face and/or limbs, allodynia, speech difficulties, auditory disturbances and distortions of the sense of smell and/or taste. Both visual and non-visual aura symptoms were assessed using an on-line questionnaire. All participants experienced visual symptoms associated with their headache. Six experienced non-visual aura symptoms, which is a higher proportion than usually found when people without visual loss are questioned. Migraine triggers were also assessed. Glare and stress were the most frequently endorsed (by six out of eight), followed by flickering lights, tiredness and hormonal factors (five out of eight). The relative weight or balance of activity in visual, somatosensory and motor cortices is suggested as a possible explanation for the higher rate of non-visual aura symptoms in those who are blind or partially sighted.
Persistence of training-induced visual improvements after occipital stroke.
Willis HE, Fahrenthold B, Millington-Truby RS … +6 more , Willis R, Starling L, Cavanaugh MR, Tamietto M, Huxlin K, Bridge H
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409917 · Publisher ↗
Damage to the primary visual cortex causes homonymous visual impairments that appear to benefit from visual discrimination training. However, whether improvements persist without continued training remains to be determin...
Damage to the primary visual cortex causes homonymous visual impairments that appear to benefit from visual discrimination training. However, whether improvements persist without continued training remains to be determined and was the focus of the present study. After a baseline assessment visit, 20 participants trained twice daily in their blind-field for a minimum of six months (median=155 sessions), using a motion discrimination and integration task. At the end of training, a return study visit was used to assess recovery. Three months later, 14 of the participants returned for a third study visit to assess persistence of recovery. At each study visit, motion discrimination and integration thresholds, Humphrey visual fields, and structural MRI scans were collected. Immediately after training, all but four participants showed improvements in the trained discrimination task, and shrinkage of the perimetrically-defined visual defect. While these gains were sustained in seven out of eleven participants who improved with training, four participants lost their improvement in motion discrimination thresholds at the follow-up visit. Persistence of recovery was not related to age, time since lesion, number of training sessions performed, proportion of V1 damaged, deficit size, or optic tract degeneration measured from structural MRI scans. The present findings underscore the potential of extended visual training to induce long-term improvements in stroke-induced vision loss. However, they also highlight the need for further investigations to better understand the mechanisms driving recovery, its persistence post-training, and especially heterogeneity among participants.
Temperature as a circadian timing cue in the visually impaired.
Ball DM, Mann SS, Santhi N … +2 more , Speekenbrink M, Walsh V
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40409916 · Publisher ↗
The daily rise and fall in ambient temperature caused by Earth's 24-hour rotation may help regulate circadian rhythms in visually impaired individuals. In all mammals, circadian rhythms, the daily cycles of physiology an...
The daily rise and fall in ambient temperature caused by Earth's 24-hour rotation may help regulate circadian rhythms in visually impaired individuals. In all mammals, circadian rhythms, the daily cycles of physiology and behavior, are time controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the brain's central clock. The SCN typically synchronizes circadian rhythms with the light/dark cycle through photoentrainment, a process in which specialized retinal cells capture ambient light and transmit this information to the SCN, allowing it to set its phase. Without light input, the rodent SCN's light-driven circuits can become desynchronized, potentially allowing alternative entrainment signals, such as ambient temperature, to influence central timing. Here, we consider whether a similar mechanism could benefit visually impaired humans who, due to retinal damage, have reduced or absent photic input to the central clock. Visually impaired individuals often experience circadian misalignment, whereby internal rhythms drift out of synchrony with the light-dark cycle, and we suggest that temperature information may mitigate some of this drift. Temperature entrainment could operate through heat shock pathways from the skin, via thermoregulatory brain regions with reciprocal connections to the SCN, or by shifting core body temperature through warm or cold baths, which can alter the phase of clocks in peripheral organs and potentially feedback to adjust central time. Given that temperature is a weaker cue than light, it remains unknown if, and to what extent, it may significantly impact central timing. However, if effective, temperature entrainment in the visually impaired could potentially improve circadian disorders, poor sleep, and adverse health outcomes associated with circadian dysfunction including depression, cognitive decline, and metabolic disorders, which are more prevalent in this population. Research is needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness of temperature as an entrainment cue in the visually impaired population, which may have broader implications for circadian timekeeping in mammals and the role of temperature in the absence of light.
Molecular mechanism underlying stress response and adaptation.
Yusuf JA, Akanbi ST, Olorunlowu DR … +15 more , Opoola EK, Ogunlade EE, Kayode EA, Adejobi EO, Sulaiman YO, Odemakinde DI, Aworeni EO, Abdulmalik NI, Oluyemi DP, Isaac AE, Aromose OI, Adewale OM, Ogunrinde V, Adeleke TA, Adeleye OO
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222793 · Publisher ↗
Stress, a common life experience, impacts both mental and physical health, contributing to conditions such as anxiety and cardiovascular disease. It triggers physiological and psychological responses, primarily through t...
Stress, a common life experience, impacts both mental and physical health, contributing to conditions such as anxiety and cardiovascular disease. It triggers physiological and psychological responses, primarily through the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) and Sympathetic-Adrenal-Medullary (SAM) axes, which are coordinated by the autonomic nervous system. Dysregulation of the glucocorticoid system, mediated by mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, plays a critical role in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Cellular pathways like PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and AP-1 transcription factors maintain homeostasis during stress and are targets for therapeutic research. Epigenetic influences and genomic modifications highlight the long-lasting effects of stress on gene expression. Adaptive responses, such as allostasis, allow the body to maintain stability amid stress. However, excessive stress leads to allostatic load, negatively impacting the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Current treatments include pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, with emerging approaches such as psychobiotics and precision medicine offering future potential.
Early life stress and brain development: Neurobiological and behavioral effects of chronic stress.
Jamil S, Raza ML, Moradikor N … +1 more , Haghipanah M
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222792 · Publisher ↗
Early life stress is the term used to describe a variety of traumatic events that a person may have as a kid, such as being subjected to domestic or public violence, being neglected, experiencing parental conflict, being...
Early life stress is the term used to describe a variety of traumatic events that a person may have as a kid, such as being subjected to domestic or public violence, being neglected, experiencing parental conflict, being abused physically, emotionally and sexually. These events have the potential to seriously impair the brains normal growth and development, which could have long term psychological and physiological repercussions. Early life stress (ELS) has profound and enduring effects on brain development, contributing to long-term neurological and behavioral changes. Neurologically, ELS can reduce hippocampal volume, impairing memory and emotional regulation, while also sensitizing the amygdala, leading to exaggerated fear and anxiety responses. Additionally, ELS can disrupt the development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), affecting decision-making, planning, and impulse control. It also alters neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin and dopamine, influencing mood and motivation, and can trigger chronic neuroinflammation, increasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Behaviorally, ELS heightens the risk of anxiety, depression, and impulsivity, and can contribute to conditions like ADHD and substance abuse Social and emotional difficulties, such as challenges in relationships and empathy, often arise, along with cognitive impairments in learning and memory. Furthermore, ELS increases stress responsiveness, making individuals more vulnerable to future stress. However, these effects can be mitigated by supportive environments and targeted interventions.
Effect of stress on neuronal cell: Morphological to molecular approach.
Bhardwaj I, Singh S, Ansari AH … +2 more , Rai SP, Singh D
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222791 · Publisher ↗
Stress can be characterized as any perceived or actual threat that necessitates compensatory actions to maintain homeostasis. It can alter an organism's behavior over time by permanently altering the composition and func...
Stress can be characterized as any perceived or actual threat that necessitates compensatory actions to maintain homeostasis. It can alter an organism's behavior over time by permanently altering the composition and functionality of brain circuitry. The amygdala and prefrontal cortex are two interrelated brain regions that have been the focus of initial research on stress and brain structural and functional plasticity, with the hippocampus serving as the entry point for most of this knowledge. Prolonged stress causes significant morphological alterations in important brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. Memory, learning, and emotional regulation are among the cognitive functions that are adversely affected by these changes, including neuronal shrinkage, dendritic retraction, and synaptic malfunction. Stress perturbs the equilibrium of neurotransmitters, neuronal plasticity, and mitochondrial function at the molecular level. On the other hand, chronic stress negatively impacts physiology and can result in neuropsychiatric diseases. Recent molecular research has linked various epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs, to the dysregulation of genes in the impacted brain circuits responsible for the pathophysiology of chronic stress. Numerous disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) including Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Friedreich's ataxia, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease, have been linked to oxidative stress as a possible cause.
The neuroscientific basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): From brain to treatment.
Agbaria L, Mirzaei F, A'amar NO … +7 more , Raba FT, Papazian G, Bhatnagar K, Sirimanne N, Ayoubkhan AA, Thilagendra AG, Gupta A
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222790 · Publisher ↗
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition resulting from exposure to traumatic events, marked by persistent psychological distress and impairment in daily functioning. Risk factors f...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition resulting from exposure to traumatic events, marked by persistent psychological distress and impairment in daily functioning. Risk factors for PTSD include genetic predispositions, neurobiological factors, as well as psychosocial and environmental influences. Specific demographic groups, such as veterans, first responders, and individuals in high-risk environments, are more susceptible to developing the disorder. Despite growing research, there remain gaps in understanding the full pathophysiology of PTSD, and existing diagnostic methods and treatments are not universally effective, contributing to a significant public health burden. This chapter explores the pathophysiology of PTSD, focusing on its underlying mechanisms, associated risk factors, and high-risk populations. Biological biomarkers such as neuroimaging findings, hormonal imbalances, genetic predispositions, and physiological indicators are discussed in the context of their role in PTSD diagnosis and understanding. Both pharmacological treatments and non-pharmacological interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based techniques, are reviewed for their effectiveness in symptom management. Further research is essential to advance individualized diagnostic techniques and optimize treatment strategies, ensuring more personalized care for PTSD patients.
Stress-induced neurodegeneration and behavioral alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Insights into the evolutionary conservation of stress-related pathways and implications for human health.
Oyerinde TO, Anadu VE, Olajide TS … +3 more , Ijomone OK, Okeowo OM, Ijomone OM
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222789 · Publisher ↗
Stress is a significant determinant for a range of neurological and psychiatric illnesses, and comprehending its influence on the brain is vital for developing effective interventions. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)...
Stress is a significant determinant for a range of neurological and psychiatric illnesses, and comprehending its influence on the brain is vital for developing effective interventions. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a tiny nematode, has become a potent model system for investigating the impact of stress on neuronal integrity, behavior, and lifespan. This chapter presents a comprehensive summary of the existing understanding of stress-induced neurodegeneration, behavioral abnormalities, and changes in lifespan in C. elegans. We explored the stress response pathways in C. elegans, specifically focusing on the heat shock response and insulin-like signaling (ILS) pathway, targeting how these pathways affect neural integrity and functions. Additionally, this chapter highlighted behavioral modifications such as changes in locomotion, feeding, pharyngeal pumping, defecation, and copulation behaviors that occur in C. elegans following exposure to stressors, and how these findings contribute to our comprehension of stress-related illnesses. Furthermore, the evolutionary preservation of stress responses in both C. elegans and humans, underscoring the significance of C. elegans studies for translational research were highlighted. In conclusion, the possible implications of C. elegans research on human well-being, with a specific emphasis on the discovery of targets for treatment and the creation of innovative approaches to address stress-related conditions are discussed in this chapter.
Addiction and stress: Exploring the reward pathways in brain affected by different drugs.
Mehr SR, Nakhaei B, Soleimani H … +3 more , Madadlou SK, Abbasi Maleky A, Abbasi-Maleki S
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222788 · Publisher ↗
This chapter delves into the complex interplay among addiction, stress, and the reward pathways in the brain, emphasizing the ways in which various drugs affect these systems and exacerbate SUD. Drugs have physiological...
This chapter delves into the complex interplay among addiction, stress, and the reward pathways in the brain, emphasizing the ways in which various drugs affect these systems and exacerbate SUD. Drugs have physiological effects that can be both pleasurable and unpleasant. These effects change behavior through both positive and negative reinforcement. A person's genetic predisposition to addiction is mostly determined by factors such as biological sex, age of first usage, and dopamine receptor density. Drug use behaviors are also greatly influenced by environmental stressors, media exposure, and substance accessibility; nevertheless, protective variables including social support, participation in healthy activities, and preventative programs serve to reduce the dangers associated with drug use. The reinforcement of addictive behaviors is mostly dependent on the brain's reward circuits, which include the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental region, and prefrontal cortex, in addition to neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Stress makes addiction worse by intensifying cravings and raising the possibility of relapsing. Examined are the impacts of several drug types, such as opioids, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens, emphasizing the long-term consequences on brain function and susceptibility to addiction. In order to create individualized interventions that target the environmental and neurological components of addiction and eventually improve treatment results, a thorough understanding of these elements is important.
Stress in specific population: Cognitive decline in aging, occupational challenges, strategies for medical professionals.
Gautam G, Moradikor N
Prog Brain Res · 2025 · PMID 40222787 · Publisher ↗
Understanding cognitive decline and its contributing causes, such as stress, which presents differently in different groups, is crucial given the aging population's rapid growth. This chapter looks at how stress affects...
Understanding cognitive decline and its contributing causes, such as stress, which presents differently in different groups, is crucial given the aging population's rapid growth. This chapter looks at how stress affects older persons' cognitive decline, with a particular emphasis on the difficulties faced by medical professionals in their line of work and how to lessen the consequences. The severity and course of cognitive decline differ from person to person and are impacted by factors such as lifestyle, medical history, and stress at work. The COVID-19 pandemic has made medical practitioners' already high demands even more precarious. Stress in underprivileged areas and among veterans emphasizes the negative effects of work-related stress on mental health even more. Techniques that improve psychological well-being and lessen burnout include resilience training, digital tools, supportive leadership, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Enhancing work-life balance and promoting a healthier work environment can be achieved by combining these interventions with organizational changes. Aging-related cognitive impairment necessitates a multimodal strategy that includes targeted stress reduction methods and organizational adjustments. Setting mental health as a top priority in healthcare settings promotes the wellbeing of staff members, enhances patient care, and improves healthcare results.
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