A schematic depiction of, top left, degree of exposure using the Yerkes-Dodson law, where low and high stress equate to poor outcomes and moderate stress results in optimal outcomes. Top right, allostatic load, the body's inability to physiologically recover from multiple stresses, an ability that diminishes further as the number of stressful events increase. Middle left, stressors can be acute, intermittent, or chronic in duration. Middle right, the timing of stress (i.e., during sensitive developmental periods) can have profound effects on long-term outcomes. Bottom left, early-life stress is broadly termed, but the modalities include deprivation, neglect, and trauma. Bottom right, repeated and predictable patterns of sensory stimuli are essential for maturation of brain circuits; this maturation can go awry when these signals are unpredictable.
