Neuroscience & Behavior 309ST - The Neurobiology of Stress

In this seminar, students will gain a thorough understanding of the stress response system, referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Using primary literature, the course will cover various facets of the HPA axis, including the cellular and anatomical neuroscience behind the stress response. Students will gain an understanding of the techniques commonly used to assess acute and chronic HPA axis activity and behavioral reactivity in humans and in a variety of non-human animals. We will explore how genes and the environment interact to determine how an individual will respond to a stressor and examine irregular activity of the HPA axis in neuropsychiatric disorders, including Anxiety, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

This course is offered to neuroscience majors only.