Biology of stress

Question 1

What is stress

Answer 1

sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis)

Question 2

What does HPA stand for in HPA axis

Answer 2

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Question 3

What are the main areas of the brain in the HPA axis

Answer 3

hypothalamus
pituitary glands
adrenal glands
amygdala 
hippocampus

HPA AH

Question 4

Describe the amygdala

Answer 4

concerned with emotion, motivation and fear

receives info on events in the world, asses danger and emotional information is conveyed to other brain regions where defensive action is organised

there are 2 amygdalae

releases CRF = corticotropin releasing factor

Question 5

Describe the hypothalamus

Answer 5

control of emotional reactions, drinking and feeding

emotional reactions in the hypothalamus stimulate hormonal secretions from the pituitary

Question 6

Describe the hippocampus

Answer 6

organising memory storage - retrieving memories stored in the cortex, one on each side of the brain

Question 7

Describe the pre-frontal cortex

Answer 7

planning + organisation of behaviour based upon use of working memory

Question 8

Describe the adrenal glands

Answer 8

adrenal cortex on outside of the gland releases cortisol directly into blood stream

Question 9

What is ACTH

Answer 9

ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone, released by the pituitary gland

Question 10

What type of hormone are cortisol + corticosterone

Answer 10

glucocorticoids

Question 11

How do cortisol and corticosterone work

Answer 11

bind to glucocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, pituitary gland