Mammals posses a number of physiological pathways related to stress. One example is the hypothalamic

Mammals posses a number of physiological pathways related to stress. One example is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal feedback system, which is commonly associated with “fight or flight” responses. Under acute (short-term) stress there are a series of physiological changes starting in the hypothalamus that lead to changes in blood chemistry and short-term effects on other body processes. Chronic stress (long-term) results in a breakdown in this feedback system, with potentially negative fitness consequences (from Boonstra et al. 1998).