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SUMMARY:Strengthening control over stress: novel brain mechanisms and oppo
 rtunities for intervention - Prof Jeffrey W. Dalley
DTSTART:20250218T180000Z
DTEND:20250218T193000Z
UID:TALK227041@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Zhang Xianghao Jeffrey
DESCRIPTION:Bodily reactions to acute stressors are by design adaptive ena
 bling individuals to operate within defined homeostatic limits. However\, 
 more protracted forms of stress\, including uncontrollable stress encounte
 red during early stages of life\, result in a myriad of adverse outcomes\,
  not least stress-related disorders such as depression and anxiety. When f
 aced with such stress\, humans and other animals elicit a variety of copin
 g strategies to offset stress intensity and harm\, but for some\, stress 
 ‘gets under the skin’ and leaves lasting impacts. This talk considers 
 the brain science and psychology of stress and focuses on so-called top-do
 wn cognitive control processes that collectively suppress stress circuits 
 centred on the amygdala\, striatum and periaqueductal grey (PAG). A new th
 eory will be introduced that links mitochondrial function in the prefronta
 l cortex with top-down cognitive control\, which it will be argued may acc
 ount for both the beneficial (i.e.\, stress resilience) and maladaptive co
 nsequences of repeated exposure to uncontrollable stressors. Empirical sup
 port for this theory will be introduced and discussed using data derived f
 rom in-vivo respirometry\, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging\, an
 d computer-automated touchscreen-based tasks in rodents. Finally\, the imp
 lications of this research for developing new interventions for depression
  and anxiety-related conditions will be considered\, including a novel sci
 entific justification for psilocybin and other hallucinogenic drugs in tre
 atment-refractory depression.  \n\nTalks are priced at £4 for non-Scienti
 fic Society members. Scientific Society members will have free access to a
 ll our talks. Lifetime membership costs £15 and gives free access to all 
 talks\, members-only events and priority access to oversubscribed SciSoc e
 vents.
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\,  Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Roa
 d
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