Regulation of the stress response by social buffering: A review across species

AVELLANEDA, M.; KAMENETZKY, GISELLE

REVISTA INTERAMERICANA DE PSICOLOGíA

REVISTA INTERAMERICANA DE PSICOLOGIA, INC.

Lugar: Porto Alegre, Brasil; Año: 2021

0034-9690

Stress has been studied in a variety of conditions by different authors, given its relevance in psychological, immune, neurological, endocrinological and social aspects, among others. One definition commonly used is any ?real or interpreted threat to the physiological or psychological integrity of an individual that results in physiological and/or behavioral responses?. Activity of the HPA axis has been shown to be regulated by a wide range of social stimuli. Specifically, the release of stress-related hormones (cortisol and corticosterone) has proven to be attenuated by the presence of conspecifics. The term social buffering has been coined to refer to this phenomenon. Poor quality breeding in early developmental periods can lead to life-long consequences. This leads us to assume that developing strategies that protect mothers during breeding would seem essential.