Brains and Stress

Did you know that the female brain may be more vulnerable to stress-related disorders? Rat studies from the National Institute of Mental Health showed that when the male brain is under stress, receptors for stress hormones tend to retreat into the cell, making the brain less stress reactive. The opposite happens in the female brain. The receptors remain exposed, allowing CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) to persist in its effect. Even in the absence of any stress, the stress-signaling system in the female brain appears to be more sensitive from the start. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2010/stress-hormone-receptors-less-adaptive-in-female-brain.shtml?WT.mc_id=twitter&sms_ss=email