Glossary // Glossary term Empirical
HPA axis
The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, a hormonal cascade in which the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol. A meta-analysis of 208 laboratory studies found that psychological stressors raised cortisol on average, with the largest and longest-lasting responses to tasks that were uncontrollable and involved social-evaluative threat. Cortisol responses vary with time of day, sex, medication and many other factors, so a cortisol level is not a direct measure of how stressed a person feels. Allostasis and allostatic load, the cognitive control of emotion, the stress-buffering effects of social support and the use of music for mood regulation explain what a night of collective movement does for the body, and what it cannot change. The works the definition rests on, with the level of evidence each was appraised at. (2004). Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355 Supports the claims that psychological stressors raised cortisol on average, with wide variation, and that uncontrollable tasks with social-evaluative threat produced the largest responses and longest recovery. Pooled effects are largely pre-to-post changes within laboratory tasks rather than randomised comparisons, so it is graded C. (1998). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. doi:10.1056/NEJM199801153380307 Supports the claim that stress mediators protect acutely and contribute to damage when chronically activated or poorly terminated. An influential conceptual review; the allostatic load construct remains debated in measurement.Where the site uses it
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