Stress Response: Is A Difference Between The Sexes?
For ages women and men have been aware of their psychological differences. A new high tech scientific study reveals they may occur in the brain. University of Pennsylvania researchers used a functional magnetic imaging machine, fMRI to scan the brains of 16 women and 16 men. While experiencing stress their brains were scanned. The researchers induced a moderate amount of stress by asking the subjects to count backwards by 13 starting at 1,600. They also monitored the heart rate, measured brain blood flow, and stress hormone levels, cortisol in particular.
The researchers found there were differences in the blood flow to the right side of the brain, specifically an area responsible for the fight or flight response. Women experienced increased flow of blood to the limbic system, associated with a friendlier and nurturing response.
This finding may lead to a screening process for mood disorders. Dr. Wang, a lead researcher commented, "In the future, when physicians treat patients - especially depression, PTSD - they need to take this into account that really, gender matters."
Other experts caution that hormones, genetics and environmental factors may influence these results, bringing to light yet another difference between men and women. Neuroscientists also remark that the changes in the brain during stress response also lasted longer in women.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field rather than X-rays to take clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. fMRI uses this technology to identify regions of the brain where blood vessels are expanding, chemical changes are taking place, or extra oxygen is being delivered.
These findings suggest that a certain portion of the brain is processing information and giving commands to the body. As a patient performs a particular task, the metabolism will increase in the brain area responsible for that task, changing the signal in the MRI image. So by performing specific tasks that correspond to different functions, scientists can locate the part of the brain that governs that function.
This is known as the "stress response," or more commonly, as the "fight or flight response." When they occur on a short term basis, the body quickly recovers. However, if low levels of stress become long term or chronic, it can harm and can be detrimental to one's health. The nervous system remains slightly activated and continues to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period, leaving the person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, and weakening the body's immune system.
The researchers found there were differences in the blood flow to the right side of the brain, specifically an area responsible for the fight or flight response. Women experienced increased flow of blood to the limbic system, associated with a friendlier and nurturing response.
This finding may lead to a screening process for mood disorders. Dr. Wang, a lead researcher commented, "In the future, when physicians treat patients - especially depression, PTSD - they need to take this into account that really, gender matters."
Other experts caution that hormones, genetics and environmental factors may influence these results, bringing to light yet another difference between men and women. Neuroscientists also remark that the changes in the brain during stress response also lasted longer in women.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field rather than X-rays to take clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. fMRI uses this technology to identify regions of the brain where blood vessels are expanding, chemical changes are taking place, or extra oxygen is being delivered.
These findings suggest that a certain portion of the brain is processing information and giving commands to the body. As a patient performs a particular task, the metabolism will increase in the brain area responsible for that task, changing the signal in the MRI image. So by performing specific tasks that correspond to different functions, scientists can locate the part of the brain that governs that function.
This is known as the "stress response," or more commonly, as the "fight or flight response." When they occur on a short term basis, the body quickly recovers. However, if low levels of stress become long term or chronic, it can harm and can be detrimental to one's health. The nervous system remains slightly activated and continues to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period, leaving the person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, and weakening the body's immune system.
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