Both habituating and non-habituating stress regimens present a challenge to the organism, and both cause sensitization of stress responses. A critical difference between the two is the cumulative impact on the body and brain. In habituating stress regimens, the ability to reduce stress axis activation over time suggests that the glucocorticoid burden may not be sufficient to cause maladaptative physiological or behavioral consequences, or that it will either take longer for cumulative damage to occur.
