Stress reactions are an inextricable part of our lives. Just as animals are able to activate them in situations of existential danger, so can we. In the short run, stress reactions are beneficial, but their long-term ramifications s may be destructive. This book describes the benefit and the danger of stress reactions and explains the processes responsible for the long-term phenomena, particularly in the central nervous system, associated with them. The description is presented from a research perspective and examines the scientific and technological achievements that make possible a professional analysis of stress reactions and their causes.

The book is intended for anyone who is interested in stress reactions in general, and for anyone who is interested in enriching their personal knowledge in the field of molecular biology in general and about the human genome project in particular.