UZH researches resilience against stress

(CONNECT) An interdisciplinary team at UZH is investigating the biological, neurological and psychological mechanisms of stress. Aim of the project STRESS also aims to investigate how stress resilience can be increased, explains UZH in a press release on the project. "Chronic stress can have a negative impact on our entire body - brain, immune system, cardiovascular system, blood count, bone quality and microbiome," neurobiologist Isabelle Mansuy is quoted as saying.

Mansuy and her co-researchers have identified self-regulation as a key factor in dealing positively with stress. "Resilient people are characterised by cognitive and emotional flexibility," explains neuroscientist Christian Ruff. "In other words, the ability to adapt optimally to the situation in moments of stress and then get back on track as quickly as possible."

The researchers' findings from the laboratory have already provided approaches for practical training to strengthen stress resilience. The change in pupils, for example, allows us to see from the outside "how strongly the arousal system in our brain is activated", explains psychologist Birgit Klein. This can be used for new feedback training. The STRESS project has already spawned two spin-offs that aim to bring corresponding training tools to market maturity. ce/hs