Impact of Stress on Brain Function and the Potential of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation
Recent research shows how acute stress affects brain functions and highlights the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation, especially targeting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, to mitigate stress-induced cognitive impairments.
Stress significantly influences brain activity and overall physiological responses, affecting cognitive functions such as working memory and decision-making. A recent study from the Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment in Dortmund explored how acute psychological stress alters brain dynamics and whether non-invasive techniques can mitigate its adverse effects.
The researchers employed an innovative aversive video paradigm (AVP) to reliably induce stress in participants. During exposure to emotionally intense footage, subjects reported increased anxiety and negative emotions. Physiological indicators like elevated salivary cortisol levels and reduced heart rate variability confirmed the stress response, alongside observable changes in brain activity through EEG measures.
Findings revealed that stress impairs top-down control mechanisms while heightening bottom-up sensory processing. This imbalance leads to increased sensitivity to salient stimuli, difficulty focusing, impulsivity, and compromised decision-making—hallmarks consistent with stress-related cognitive disruptions. Notably, post-stress working memory tasks showed diminished performance, underscoring the cognitive toll of acute stress.
Further, the study investigated whether non-invasive brain stimulation could counteract these effects. Participants received transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting specific prefrontal regions: the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) involved in working memory and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), which plays a key role in emotional regulation. The strongest improvements in cognitive performance and reductions in cortisol levels were observed with vmPFC stimulation, highlighting its potential in stabilizing emotional and cognitive control under stress.
These findings suggest that targeted modulation of the vmPFC through non-invasive stimulation may help maintain cognitive function and regulate emotional responses during stressful periods, holding promise for therapeutic applications in stress-related disorders.
For more information, see the original research articles in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology (2025). source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-stress-affects-brain-invasive.html
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