Biological Explanations Of Stress - Adrenaline And Cortisol Flashcards
What is the ANS?
The autonomic nervous system
What are the two branches of the ANS?
The sympathetic branch and the Parasympathetic branch
What does the Sympathetic branch of the ANS do?
It activates internal organs in situations where we need energy and arousal (fight or flight)
What is the bodys reaction do the secretion of Adrenaline and noradrenaline in the fight or fight response?
Increased heart rate , reduced stomach activity , pupil dilation , relaxation of brocholi in lungs
What is the parasympathetic branch of the ANS for? (HPA)
It is focused on conserving resources and getting the body back to its baseline
What does the parasympathetic branch of the ANS do when confronted with a long term stressor? (HPA)
if a stressor becomes a long term stressor it will lower the sypathetic branches reaction to preserve us longer
Which pathway explains the bodys reaction to short-term stress?
The SAM pathway
What is the SAM pathway?
Stressor -> the stressor is identified by the hypothelmus -> sends a signal to to the adrenal medulla -> which releases adrenaline and noradrenaline -> triggering the fight or flight response
What does the SAM pathway explain?
The reaction to short-term stress
What is the fight or flight responses link to evolution?
It believed to have evolved as a way for us to deal with threats
What are the problems of the fight or flight response in modern society?
Modern society triggers the response without need of action , meaning many stay in a constant state of arousal
What are the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the heart?
Higher heart beat
Raised blood preasure
Artiries can become blocked to to dislodged plauque
Explain why CHD may be a higher risk in stressed patients?
The acute stress response slows digestion , meaning higher cholesterol , meaning higher risk of CHD
What is the acute stress response typicaly reffered to as?
The fight or flight response
What did Dimsdale (2008) highlight about stress being a causal factor in developing illness?
He suggested that a stressed indivdual may expose themseleves to pathogens through habbits (e.g. smoking and drinking) , therfore its the habbits that cause illness , not stress
What is the criticism of ill participants recording their level of stress
That a higher level of stress may be recorded by ill people as they are stressed due to illness , not vice versa
What effect does adrenaline and noradrenaline have on the body if we perceive a stressor as a threat according to Blascovich and Tomaka (1996)?
Rapid heartbeat
Increased blood pressure
Possibility to exacerbate heart issues due to overworked heart
Which pathway explains chronic stress?
HPA
Explain the HPA pathway
Hypothalamus identifys a stressor as chronic issue -> the anterior pituitary gland -> releases ACTH -> activates the adrenal cortext -> releases cortisol into the bloodstream
It makes the liver creates a steady supply of glucose for the body
What is a negative of HPA for the body?
It suppresses the immune system
What are the positives of HPA?
Cortisol helps us maintain a steady supply of glucose
Cortisol triggers the para-sympathetic branch of the ANS and turns down our initial acute stress reaction and helps us stabilise our body
What are the negatives of HPA?
Cortisol slows wound healing
It suppresses the immune system
Cortisol can impair memory
What group of hormones does cortisol belong to?
Glucocorticoids
What physical ailments did Curtis (2000) link to chronic stress? (HPA)
Headaches
Flu
CHD
Gastric ulcers
What are the two bilogical explinations of stress?
Adrenaline and accute stress (SAM pathway)
Cortisol and chronic stress (HPA pathway)
What does SAM stand for?
Sympathetic adrenal medullary system
What does HPA stand for?
Hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenocortical axis
