All posts tagged: cortisol

Cortisol could impact your dog’s behavior

Cortisol could impact your dog’s behavior

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletterđź’ˇ Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. For dogs, good training and responsible ownership impact their behavior, but their life experiences and genetics can also affect temperament. Hormones may also play a role and could offer a new way to assess our canine companions. In a small study published today in the journal PLOS One, more well-behaved dogs generally had lower levels of cortisol—an important stress hormone—and higher levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness. A team at Kyungpook National University in Degu, South Korea, studied 24 dogs of various breeds, including beagles, border collies, and mixed breed dogs. They used a version of the Wesen test, an assessment that generally helps determine if an animal is more suitable as a pet or working dog. In this particular study, a human observer watched the dog’s reaction to several situations and interactions with people and other dogs. For example, the observer focused on how relaxed or anxious a dog appeared when they were alone and then …

Do you need a cortisol test? A doctor reveals what you should do instead

Do you need a cortisol test? A doctor reveals what you should do instead

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Cortisol, widely known as the ‘stress hormone’, is currently a major topic of discussion online. Wellness influencers frequently highlight various symptoms they attribute to chronically high cortisol, including waking at 3 am, a swollen ‘cortisol face’, and increased belly fat. They often propose specific diet and exercise routines as remedies. However, medical professionals are largely dismissing the idea that supplements or influencer advice are necessary to control cortisol, stating it is highly improbable. They caution against quickly labelling the hormone as a villain. Instead, if concerns arise, the advice is to consult a qualified professional. Here’s what to know. Cortisol keeps you alive and disorders are relatively rare Cortisol is a hormone and you need it to survive. It comes from the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, and is one …

A doctor reveals why you don’t need a cortisol test – and what you should do instead

A doctor reveals why you don’t need a cortisol test – and what you should do instead

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Cortisol, widely known as the ‘stress hormone’, is currently a major topic of discussion online. Wellness influencers frequently highlight various symptoms they attribute to chronically high cortisol, including waking at 3 am, a swollen ‘cortisol face’, and increased belly fat. They often propose specific diet and exercise routines as remedies. However, medical professionals are largely dismissing the idea that supplements or influencer advice are necessary to control cortisol, stating it is highly improbable. They caution against quickly labelling the hormone as a villain. Instead, if concerns arise, the advice is to consult a qualified professional. Here’s what to know. Cortisol keeps you alive and disorders are relatively rare Cortisol is a hormone and you need it to survive. It comes from the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, and is one …

Primary psychopathy linked to lower morning cortisol levels

Primary psychopathy linked to lower morning cortisol levels

Published by José Betancourt

A study conducted on university students found that individuals with higher levels of primary psychopathic traits tend to have lower baseline cortisol levels in the morning, but not in the afternoon. This effect did not depend on participants’ sex. The research was published in Social Neuroscience. Psychopathic traits are personality characteristics involving callousness, lack of empathy and remorse, manipulativeness, shallow affect, and a tendency toward impulsive or antisocial behavior. They are commonly divided into primary and secondary psychopathy. Primary psychopathy is characterized by low anxiety, emotional coldness, lack of empathy, superficial charm, and reduced fear responsiveness. Individuals high in primary psychopathy tend to be manipulative, callous, and emotionally detached. These traits are thought to primarily depend on genetics and temperament. Secondary psychopathy is characterized by impulsivity, emotional instability, hostility, and high negative affect. Individuals high in secondary psychopathy frequently show reactive aggression, poor emotional regulation, and heightened sensitivity to stress. Secondary psychopathy is more strongly associated with adverse environmental influences, such as trauma or an unstable upbringing. Study author Todd A. Armstrong and his colleagues …

This specialized cognitive training triggers neurobiological changes and lowers cortisol

This specialized cognitive training triggers neurobiological changes and lowers cortisol

Published by José Betancourt

A new study published in Psychological Medicine has found that a specific type of cognitive training can reduce biological markers of stress. The training, focused on modifying memory biases, appeared to lower daytime cortisol levels and reduce the tendency to recall negative self-relevant information. These findings suggest that targeting how the brain retrieves memories could offer a preventative strategy for individuals prone to anxiety and depression. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are often characterized by a cognitive pattern known as negative memory bias. This involves a tendency for individuals to preferentially remember negative information about themselves while forgetting or overlooking positive experiences. For example, a person might dwell on a single criticism received at work while failing to recall several compliments received the same day. While therapies aimed at shifting attention away from negative stimuli exist, interventions specifically targeting memory retrieval remain understudied. The authors of the current study aimed to fill this gap by developing a comprehensive training program. They sought to determine if explicitly practicing the recall of positive autobiographical memories …

What is a cortisol cocktail? The drink that claims to reduce stress and boost energy

What is a cortisol cocktail? The drink that claims to reduce stress and boost energy

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Have you heard of a “cortisol cocktail”? Rather than something you might order at a bar, this drink is one of the latest wellness trends floating around social media. Proponents claim the drink – which is made with ingredients including orange juice, coconut water and salt – can lower high cortisol levels and help with “adrenal fatigue”. This, in turn, is supposed to lead to a range of benefits, from reduced stress to improved energy levels. But can a cortisol cocktail really achieve these things? And do we actually need to lower our cortisol levels in the first place? Let’s see what the evidence says. First, what is cortisol? Cortisol is often portrayed as being bad for us, but we couldn’t live without it. …