Can stress be good for brain functioning? What new study says

Stress is widely considered to be part and parcel of the modern day lifestyle, often but rightly condemned for being responsible for its severe impact on ease of living. The latest research findings published in psychiatry research, found that low to moderate levels of stress can help in developing resilience and reduce the risk of developing mental health disorders, like depression and antisocial behaviors. Assaf Oshri, lead author of the study and an associate professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences explained, “if you're in an environment where you have some level of stress, you may develop coping mechanisms that will allow you to become a more efficient and effective worker and organize yourself in a way that will help you perform.” The report further highlighted that the stress that comes from important life situations, like for instance, studying for an exam, preparing for a big meeting at work or pulling longer hours to close the deal can all potentially lead to personal growth. The study noted that good stress can act like a vaccine against the effect of future adversity The researchers relied on data from the Human Connectome Project, a national project funded by the National Institutes of Health that aims to provide insight into how the human brain functions. For the present study, the researchers analyzed the project's data from more than 1,200 young adults who reported their perceived stress levels using a questionnaire commonly used in research to measure how uncontrollable and stressful people find their lives, as per report.