Figure 1.

The brain is a primary organ that perceives and responds to what is stressful to an individual. The major function of cortisol and other mediators of allostasis is to promote adaptation. However, overuse and/or dysregulation among the mediators of allostasis lead to allostatic load (or overload) and accelerate disease processes such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and affective disorders. Three limbic brain regions are noted.