The Science of Stress and Recovery

Describe the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system activation during the acute stress response.

Explain the concept of allostatic load and its cumulative cognitive consequences.

Differentiate between acute stress (eustress) and chronic stress (distress) using the Yerkes-Dodson law.

Describe the role of the vagus nerve and parasympathetic activation in stress recovery.

Interpret heart rate variability (HRV) as a biomarker for autonomic balance and recovery status.

Create a cheat sheet summarizing stress pathways, recovery mechanisms, and key biomarkers.