Fig. 6: Correlation analysis between behavioral indices, CRH and cortisol levels and inflammation.

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (r) was computed, where r ranges from −1 (perfect negative correlation) to 1 (perfect positive correlation). An absolute r value ≥ 0.5 indicates a moderate or stronger association. Statistical significance is marked by asterisks: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and no asterisk indicates P ≥ 0.05 (The shade of the color indicates the strength of the correlation, with white representing a positive correlation and green representing a negative correlation, and the darker the color the stronger the correlation. The size of the circle indicates significance, the larger the size, the higher the significance).