nuclei recruit the HPA axis directly, while “psychological” stressors elicit a neuroendocrine response through top-down processes (Pecoraro et al., 2006; Sawchenko et al., 2000; Herman et al., 2003). In this circuit, psychological stressors activate corticothalamic sensory systems, which convey information to cortical and limbic integrative areas where information is processed and aversive salience is determined. These integrative limbic areas, particularly the amygdala, then regulate the HPA axis via trans-synaptic relays, including within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and local hypothalamic nuclei (Herman et al., 2005).
