Meeting Abstract
The model of allostasis proposes that energy balance plays a key role in determining glucocorticoid physiology. It has been proposed that glucocorticoid levels are most likely regulated based on an individual’s proximity to energetic crisis, identified as the Perturbation Resistance Potential (PRP). In the model of allostatic load, this is quantified as the difference between available resources and all sources of allostatic load, Eg – (Ee + Ei + Eo). The pattern of responsiveness to PRP – whether change occurs gradually or abruptly through spikes in hormone levels – may vary and has specific implications for the activation of mineralocorticoid vs glucocorticoid-type receptors. The PRP is a difficult quantity to measure – particularly for an animal. Here, we examine the variety of cues that animals may use to inform them about the status of their PRP and probability of energetic crisis. We consider elevation in glucocorticoid hormones as an endocrine “decision,” and consider error management strategies in evaluating responsiveness to cues that may reflect or predict an impending energetic crisis. The potential for differential receptor activation as well as further integrative “decisions” to determine diverse and sometimes contradictory effects of receptor activation is also important to the consideration of error management. This perspective offers insight into the basis of intra- and inter-individual variability in responsiveness, and also opens an avenue towards improving compatibility of the allostasis model with more classical and biomedical views on “stress.”
