# Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Analysis of Functional Connectivity in Chronic Stress: A Comparison of Stress-Induced and Recovery States

## TL;DR

This study uses brain scans to compare how chronic stress affects brain network connections during stress and recovery phases.

## Contribution

The study reveals how chronic stress alters brain network connectivity during stress and recovery, highlighting persistent alertness.

## Key findings

- During stress, connectivity between the salience and dorsal attention networks increased.
- During recovery, connectivity between the default mode and frontoparietal networks increased.
- Salience network activation continued during recovery, indicating prolonged alertness in chronic stress.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Chronic stress is associated with long-lasting alterations in brain function, particularly affecting the dynamic interactions between large-scale neural networks during stress and recovery. In this study, we compared changes in brain functional connectivity between states of stress induction and recovery in individuals with chronic stress and investigate the effects of chronic stress on functional brain networks. Methods: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and ROI-to-ROI analysis to analyze functional connectivity in chronic stress (n = 36). The participants performed the Montreal Imaging Stress Task followed by a recovery phase. Results: The results showed that during the stress induction phase, connectivity between the salience and dorsal attention networks increased, demonstrating enhanced attention and emotional regulation. In contrast, during the recovery phase, connectivity between the default mode and the frontoparietal networks increased, demonstrating cognitive and emotional recovery after stress. Notably, we found that salience network activation continued during the recovery phase, suggesting that individuals with chronic stress may exhibit a continual state of alertness even after stress. Conclusions: Thus, our findings show that chronic stress can lead to the reconstruction of functional networks during the stress response and recovery, contributing to our understanding of the neurobiological correlates of stress-related impairment.