Big Quiz 3 Flashcards
Peripheral Nervous System
Consists of the autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and somatic (sensory input and motor output) systems
Autonomic System
All self-regulated actions; maintains internal conditions enabling the body to adapt and respond to different events. It regulates blood flow, gland activity, digestion, homeostasis, sexual and defensive/aggressive behavior.
Somatic System
Where voluntary actions are produced
Sympathetic Nervous System
Arousal; fight or flight, decreases in digestive activity, prepares the body for physically demanding actions (thoracic and lumbar section of the spine)
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Rest & digest; recovery from activity from SNS, decreased heart rate, digestive activity, restorative processes (cranial and sacral regions of the spinal cord)
Preganglionic Neurons
Transport neural messages from the point of origin on the spine to clusters of neural cell bodies and dendrites outside of the CNS (ganglion) in the peripheral nervous system (fibers are short for local activation); sympathetic division: ganglion is near the spinal cords (long axons)
Postgangliotic Neurons
Transport neural messages from the neural clusters (ganglions) to target organs; fibers are long for widespread activation; parasympathetic division, ganglia are near target organs (short axons) discrete regulation (winding down)
Stages of General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm - increased SNS activity in preparation for emergency response
Resistance - SNS response declines, adrenal glands release cortisol which prolongs alertness, helps fight infections and heal wounds
Exhaustion - energy is depleted from prolonged stress exposure, leaving the individual inactive and vulnerable
HPA Axis
Hypothalamus - homeostasis, hunger, thirst, internal temp
pituitary gland - master gland of endocrine system
adrenal gland - receives input from the pituitary gland; located on top of kidneys
HPA Axis Stress Response
- hypothalamus activates releasing CRH
- CRH release triggers release of ACTH from pituitary gland into the blood stream
- ACTH stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete cortisol into the bloodstream
- cortisol then enhances metabolic, immune and cognitive functioning (inhibits further release of CRH and ACTH
Stress Response Steps
- brain perceives stressor
- hypothalamus secretes CRH
- pituitary gland secretes ACTH
- ACTH triggers cortisol release from adrenal gland
- cortisol inhibits the release of CRH and ACTH (self-regulating negative feedback loop to decrease response)
Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)
- task 1: speak for 5 min about why you’re qualified for your dream job in the presence of two researchers (neutral expressions, taking notes, pointing out errors)
- task 2: count down from 2110 by 13’s for 5 min
- blood/saliva samples
Autonomic Specificity Summary
Scientists agree that there are relationships between physiology and emotion in certain contexts. The idea of one-to-one correspondence between peripheral physiology and emotion across all contexts is rejected. It’s unclear if there is true specificity, but all data support the notion that these physiological changes are preparing us to act.
Sickness Behaviors
Shared between humans and other animals; dead bacterial cell walls were injected into animals triggering an immune response and sickness behaviors.
Brain-Immune Interactions
- body detects infection
- pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced by activated leukocytes in the immune system act in the brain (hypothalamus) to produce sickness behaviors
