Abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the major endocrine stress axis of the human organism. Brain networks exercises their regulatory function on HPA axis function and cortisol regulation. Moreover, cortisol regulates its own release via the negative feedback loop in the central nervous system, where it influence stress responsiveness and alter the rate of brain and body aging. Hippocampus, amygdale, prefrontal cortex, and brainstem are involved in cortisol regulation in response to stress. Future study should classify different type of stressors and try to find experimental paradigms of psychosocial stress in the event-related potential (ERP) context.

Key words: stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, cortisol, neuroimaging