People always think that stress is a bad thing. In a new study, researchers from the University of California at Berkeley revealed how acute stress (short-term rather than long-term stress) accurately prepares the brain To improve performance. These research findings indicate that a certain amount of stress is beneficial, which helps to improve alertness and improve behavior and cognitive ability. Related research results were published in the eLife journal on April 16, 2013, and the title of the paper was " Acute stress enhances adult rat hippocampal neurogenesis and activation of newborn neurons via secreted astrocytic FGF2 ". The corresponding author of the paper is Dr. Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of comprehensive biology. The first author of the paper is Elizabeth Kirby. Astrocytes (pink) appear to play a key role in the response to acute stress. Stress hormones promote the release of FGF2 (green) by astrocytes, which leads to the production of new neurons (blue). In this study on rats, the researchers found that major but short-term stress events caused stem cells in their brains to proliferate and produce new neurons, which formed neurons to mature after two weeks, thereby improving their spirits. which performed. Bruce McEwen (not involved in this study), director of Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at The Rockefeller University, said that these findings found that Overall, this concept will be strengthened: Stress hormones help animals adapt. After all, remembering where stressful things happen is beneficial for them to deal with the same situation in the same place in the future. " Kaufer and her colleagues are particularly interested in how acute stress and long-term stress affect memory. Given that the hippocampus in the brain plays a key role in memory formation, they focused on studying stress on neural stem cells in the hippocampus of adult rat brains. The influence of different chemical triggering factors, neural stem cells can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and other cells in the brain. There are only two regions in the adult brain that produce new brain cells, the hippocampal dentate gyrus (dentate gyrus) is one of them. The dentate gyrus is highly sensitive to the stress hormone called glucocorticoid. Most previous studies have confirmed that long-term stress raises the level of glucocorticoids, and this inhibits the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, which damages memory. In addition, long-term high levels of stress hormones affect the entire body, such as increased The risks of chronic obesity, heart disease, and depression. But scientists know little about the effects of acute stress, and previous findings are also controversial. To clarify this issue, the researchers subjected the rats to acute stress (that is, short-term stress), that is, they were fixed in a cage for a few hours. Although only a few hours, but this will lead to glucocorticoid levels in these rats and Those rats suffering from chronic stress are just as high. This acute stress causes their new brain cells in the hippocampus to multiply twice as fast, especially in the dorsal dentate gyrus. Stress-related glucocorticoids (green hexagons) promote astrocytes in the brain to release FGF2, and FGF2 triggers neural stem cells to produce new neurons. The researchers found that after experiencing this stress event for two weeks instead of two days, these rats performed better in memory. Using specific labeling techniques, they determined that the new neurons that are triggered by this acute stress are Those cells involved in learning new tasks two weeks later. Kaufe said, "In terms of survival, neuronal proliferation does not benefit immediately after experiencing stress, because these neurons take a while to mature and become functional. But in the natural environment where acute stress often occurs, It will help the animal become more alert and more suitable for the environment, and it will quickly determine which are the real threats. " The researchers also found that neuronal proliferation that occurs after acute stress is triggered by fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) released by astrocytes. Astrocytes were previously thought to be a Supportive cells, but now they seem to play a more important role in regulating neurons. Kaufer notes that exposure to acute, high-intensity stress can sometimes be harmful, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Further research may help identify which factors determine stress The response is good or bad. She concluded, "I am very optimistic about this. Stress can make people perform better, but the question is how much pressure and how long people understand or perceive. Car Doll Ornaments,Car Decoration Accessories,Car Doll Decoration Jewelry,Cartoon Car Doll Decorations DONGGUAN TETSUMET TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD , https://www.tetsumet.com