Stresory

Stresory is a term used in psychophysiology to denote a category of stimuli or internal states that reliably provoke the body's stress response. It is typically characterized by its capacity to trigger rapid autonomic arousal and activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis under controlled conditions, distinguishing acute triggers from broader chronic stressors. The concept appears in some theoretical reviews as a way to categorize immediate, testable stress triggers separate from the overall stress environment.

Stresories can be external or internal. External examples include sudden loud sounds, socially evaluative situations, or unexpected physical discomfort. Internal examples include high cognitive load, intense worry, or pain. They can be further categorized by immediacy (instantaneous versus delayed), predictability, and controllability. The underlying mechanism typically involves engagement of the amygdala and related limbic circuits, leading to activation of the autonomic nervous system and, with sustained exposure, the HPA axis and cortisol release.

Measurement and study often rely on physiological indicators such as heart rate, skin conductance, pupil dilation, cortisol levels, and various neuroimaging or EEG markers. In research and clinical contexts, stresory paradigms are used to investigate fear learning, coping strategies, and resilience, as well as to design exposure-based therapies and stress-management interventions. The term is not universally standardized, and some researchers prefer general references to stressors or acute stressors rather than the specific construct of a stresory.

See also: stressor, acute stress, HPA axis.