The neurological mechanism of linking stress-induced anxiety to motivation for reward
The neurological mechanism of linking stress-induced anxiety to motivation for reward Stressful situations activate complex biological mechanisms and neural circuits that detect and respond to threats to homeostasis, resulting in behavioral responses that minimize disruption and increase survival. The cognitive processing of stress involves subjective appraisal to guide appropriate behavioral responses. Maladaptive responses to stress can contribute to the development of anxiety-related disorders and depression. The prefrontal cortex, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and ventral hippocampus are all brain areas involved in anxiety-like behavior induced by stress.