And what is the pattern of glucocorticoid exposure that maximized dopamine release? You can probably guess already. A moderate rise that doesn’t go on for too long. As we’ve seen, experience severe and prolonged stress, and learning, synaptic plasticity, and immune defenses are impaired. As we saw, experience moderate and transient stress, and memory, synaptic plasticity, and immunity are enhanced. Same thing here. Experience severe and prolonged glucocorticoid exposure, and we’ve returned to chapter 14—dopamine depletion, dysphoria, and depression.
