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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility
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Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropharmacology and Neuropathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2025) | Viewed by 4730

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elaine Gavioli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Interests: animal models; rodents; stress; depression; anxiety; hippocampus; neuropeptides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Stress is a common reaction to environmental adversity, but while it is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis and survival, maladaptive responses to stress insults can lead to mental disorders and unhealthy conditions. The ability to adapt to a stressful condition and not develop a pathological state is termed “resilience”. Significant efforts have been made to understand the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders and the influence of life events on risk and resilience. Additionally, new strategies to prevent the onset of stress-induced psychopathologies by increasing stress resilience in high-risk populations have generated great interest. This view has encouraged a number of studies searching for the mechanisms underlying stress resilience and how they can be used to increase resilience in vulnerable individuals.

This Special Issue welcomes original and review articles related to stress resilience and susceptibility in order to shed light on the scientific discussion about the neurobiological mechanisms, biomarkers, innovative pharmacological targets and clinical interventions to increase resilience in vulnerable individuals.

  • Neurobiological mechanisms;
  • Biomarkers of stress resilience and susceptibility;
  • Pharmacology of stress resilience and susceptibility;
  • Animal models for studying resilience and susceptibility to stress;
  • Psychiatric disorders associated with resilience and susceptibility to stress;
  • Clinical interventions to increase resilience to stress.

Dr. Elaine Gavioli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stress
  • resilience
  • vulnerability
  • psychiatric disorders
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 592 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Planning and Breastfeeding: Buffering Postpartum Depression Through Positive Affect
by Ana Catala, Cecilia Peñacoba and Patricia Catalá
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(6), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060591 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In the context of maternal mental health, this cross-sectional study investigates a moderated mediation model to explore how prenatal planning is associated with postpartum depression. Specifically, we examined whether planned pregnancy (X) is associated with fewer postpartum depression symptoms (Y) through greater [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: In the context of maternal mental health, this cross-sectional study investigates a moderated mediation model to explore how prenatal planning is associated with postpartum depression. Specifically, we examined whether planned pregnancy (X) is associated with fewer postpartum depression symptoms (Y) through greater positive affect (M), and whether the indirect association is moderated by breastfeeding duration (W). Methods: Data were collected from 117 postpartum mothers via self-report questionnaires that measured the degree of pregnancy planning, positive affect, postpartum depression symptoms, and breastfeeding duration. Bootstrap analyses were performed to assess the conditional indirect effects across two levels of breastfeeding duration. Results: The findings suggest an indirect association between pregnancy planning and postpartum depressive symptoms through positive affect, moderated by breastfeeding duration. This association was statistically significant only among mothers who breastfed for less than six months, indicating that the protective emotional effect of pregnancy planning may be more evident in this group. No significant indirect effects were observed in mothers who breastfed beyond this duration. Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest that positive affect may be a pathway through which prenatal planning relates to maternal well-being, particularly in the context of breastfeeding practices. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn. Future longitudinal research is needed to confirm these associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility)
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27 pages, 6846 KiB  
Article
Chronic Stress Modulates Microglial Activation Dynamics, Shaping Priming Responses to Subsequent Stress
by Junyu Chen, Jiacheng Huang, Taolei Han and Nobuhiko Kojima
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(5), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15050534 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
(1) Background: The high recurrence rate and individual differences in stress susceptibility contribute to the diverse symptoms of depression, making full recovery and relapse prevention challenging. Emerging evidence suggests that fluctuations in microglial activity are closely linked to depression progression under chronic stress [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The high recurrence rate and individual differences in stress susceptibility contribute to the diverse symptoms of depression, making full recovery and relapse prevention challenging. Emerging evidence suggests that fluctuations in microglial activity are closely linked to depression progression under chronic stress exposure. Changes in the brain microenvironment can elicit microglial priming, enhancing their sensitivity to external stimuli. However, few studies have longitudinally examined how microglial characteristics evolve throughout depression progression. (2) Methods: In this study, we investigated microglial morphological changes and their responses to acute stress at different stages of depression using the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) paradigm in mice. (3) Results: Our findings reveal that in the dentate gyrus, microglial activation indices, including cell number and morphology, exhibit distinct dynamic patterns depending on CUMS exposure duration. Notably, after 2 and 4 weeks of CUMS exposure followed by acute stress re-exposure, microglia display opposing response patterns. In contrast, after 6 weeks of CUMS exposure, primed microglia exhibit dysfunction, failing to respond to acute stress. Notably, depressive behaviors are not prominent after 2 weeks of CUMS exposure but become more pronounced after 4 and 6 weeks of exposure. Additionally, regardless of CUMS duration, body weight demonstrates an intrinsic capacity to normalize after stress cessation. (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that microglial priming responses are state-dependent, either enhancing or suppressing secondary stimulus responses, or exceeding physiological limits, thereby preventing further activation. This study provides novel insights into the role of microglial priming in stress vulnerability and its contribution to depression progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility)
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14 pages, 1558 KiB  
Article
Topographical Organization of Prefrontal Cortex and Adjacent Areas Projections to the Dorsomedial Caudate–Putamen in Rats: A Retrograde Tracing Study
by Christopher L. Robison, Theodore Kazan, Rikki L. A. Miller, Tyler Allen, Jason S. Hensley and Sergios Charntikov
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(4), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15040398 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 360
Abstract
The dorsomedial caudate–putamen (dmCPu), a key input structure of the basal ganglia, plays a crucial role in goal-directed behaviors and the transition to habits. The functional specialization of the dmCPu along its anteroposterior axis suggests that distinct prefrontal cortex (PFC) subregions may differentially [...] Read more.
The dorsomedial caudate–putamen (dmCPu), a key input structure of the basal ganglia, plays a crucial role in goal-directed behaviors and the transition to habits. The functional specialization of the dmCPu along its anteroposterior axis suggests that distinct prefrontal cortex (PFC) subregions may differentially contribute to these processes. However, the precise topographical organization of PFC and adjacent areas projections to the anterior and posterior dmCPu remains poorly understood. We employed retrograde tracing using Fluoro-Gold to map the projections from PFC subregions and adjacent areas to the anterior and posterior dmCPu in male Sprague Dawley rats. Histological verification and immunohistochemical labeling were conducted to confirm injection sites and neuronal labeling. Quantitative analyses were performed to assess the effects of injection site placement (anterior vs. posterior dmCPu), laterality (ipsilateral vs. contralateral), and cortical subregion on projection density. The posterior dmCPu received significantly higher projection densities than the anterior dmCPu, with a pronounced ipsilateral dominance across all cortical subregions. Among the subregions examined, the cingulate cortex exhibited the highest number of labeled neurons projecting to the dmCPu, with distinct patterns of connectivity between anterior and posterior injection sites. Notably, motor and somatosensory cortical projections were more prominent in the posterior dmCPu, whereas cingulate projections demonstrated robust anteroposterior and lateralized differences. These findings provide a comprehensive map of the topographical organization of cortical inputs to the dmCPu, highlighting differential connectivity patterns that may underlie distinct functional roles in goal-directed and habitual behaviors. This work advances our understanding of corticostriatal circuits and their relevance to adaptive behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility)
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13 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
The Psychological Resilience of Older Adults Is Key to Their Independence in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Social Participation
by Noelia Saez-Sanz, Encarnacion Sanchez-Lara, Raquel Gonzalez-Perez, Alfonso Caracuel and Isabel Peralta-Ramirez
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(4), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15040383 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The link between stress and performance in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and participation in older adults is gaining importance. The existing evidence is based on single measures of salivary cortisol levels; therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The link between stress and performance in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and participation in older adults is gaining importance. The existing evidence is based on single measures of salivary cortisol levels; therefore, there is a need for more comprehensive studies that incorporate long-term measurements of cortisol concentrations as indicators of chronic stress. In consequence, the objective is to determine whether perceived stress, hair cortisol concentration, and psychological resilience are related to IADLs and participation in older individuals. Methods: A sample of 63 individuals with a mean age of 76.5 years underwent an assessment of stress variables (Perceived Stress Scale, hair cortisol concentration, and Resilience Scale), IADLs (UPSA Scale), and participation (PART-O Scale). Using the stress variables as factors, multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict UPSA and PART-O scores and their respective subscales. The correlation between UPSA and PART-O was also examined. Results: After controlling for age, gender, and cognitive status, resilience emerged as the sole independent predictor of overall scores on both scales, as well as on two subscales: UPSA-Communication and PART-O-Others, for which hair cortisol was also a predictor. The effect size of the association between UPSA and PART-O scores was small. Conclusions: psychological resilience is not only a protective variable against stress but also appears to be associated with instrumental functioning and social participation in older adults. This finding suggests that resilience plays a role in facilitating IADLs and participation among the elderly population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility)

Review

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23 pages, 747 KiB  
Review
Effects of Stress Exposure to Pain Perception in Pre-Clinical Studies: Focus on the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ–NOP Receptor System
by Pietro Pola, Alessia Frezza, Elaine C. Gavioli, Girolamo Calò and Chiara Ruzza
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(9), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14090936 - 19 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1989
Abstract
Exposure to physical and psychological stress modulates pain transmission in a dual manner. Stress-induced analgesia (SIA) refers to the reduction in pain sensitivity that can occur in response to acute stress. On the contrary, chronic stress exposure may lead to a phenomenon named [...] Read more.
Exposure to physical and psychological stress modulates pain transmission in a dual manner. Stress-induced analgesia (SIA) refers to the reduction in pain sensitivity that can occur in response to acute stress. On the contrary, chronic stress exposure may lead to a phenomenon named stress-induced hyperalgesia (SIH). SIH is a clinically relevant phenomenon since it has been well documented that physical and psychological stress exacerbates pain in patients with several chronic pain syndromes, including migraine. The availability of animal models of SIA and SIH is of high importance for understanding the biological mechanisms leading to these phenomena and for the identification of pharmacological targets useful to alleviate the burden of stress-exacerbated chronic pain. Among these targets, the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ)–N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor system has been identified as a key modulator of both pain transmission and stress susceptibility. This review describes first the experimental approaches to induce SIA and SIH in rodents. The second part of the manuscript summarizes the scientific evidence that suggests the N/OFQ–NOP receptor system as a player in the stress–pain interaction and candidates NOP antagonists as useful drugs to mitigate the detrimental effects of stress exposure on pain perception. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Resilience and Susceptibility)
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