Biopsychology : Fight or Flight

Question 1

What is a gland?

Answer 1

Specialized organ that produces substances like hormones, enzymes and fluids into the bloodstream

Question 2

What is a hormone?

Answer 2

A chemical messenger produced by glands that regulates physiological processes in the body by affecting target cells or organs

Question 3

Major endocrine gland : Thyroid

Answer 3

affects metabolism

Question 4

Major endocrine gland : Parathyroids

Answer 4

help regulate level of calcium in blood

Question 5

Major endocrine gland : Testis

Answer 5

secretes male sex hormone

Question 6

Major endocrine gland : Adrenal

Answer 6

trigger fight or flight response

Question 7

Major endocrine gland : Pancreas

Answer 7

regulates level of sugar in blood

Question 8

Major endocrine gland : ovaries

Answer 8

secretes female sex hormones

Question 9

Major endocrine gland : hypothalamus

Answer 9

Control centre - brain region controlling the pituitary gland

Question 10

Major endocrine gland : pituitary

Answer 10

Master gland - secretes different hormones, some affect other glands

Question 11

What does fight or flight mean?

Answer 11

equence of activities within the body that are triggered when the body prepares itself for defending or attacking (fight) or running away to safety (flight)

Question 12

What biological thing causes the fight or flight?

Answer 12

changes in the NS and secretion of hormones to sustain arousal

Question 13

What biological thing causes the fight or flight?

Answer 13

changes in the NS and secretion of hormones to sustain arousal

Question 14

History of fight or flight?

Answer 14

engrained survival instinct and represents the options our ancient ancestors could choose when dealing with dangerous environments – it makes the body prepared

Question 15

What part of the brain senses danger?

Answer 15

The amygdala – its associated with emotional processes and it part of the limbic system. If it alerts a threat it’ll activate a sequence of events (the Sympathomedullary pathway)

Question 16

SAM pathway?

Answer 16

The Sympathomedullary pathway - route the brain directs the sympathetic branch of the automatic nervous system (ANS) to activate in response to short-term stress

Question 17

SAM pathway list

Answer 17

Hypothalamus activates → SAM triggers → adrenal medulla releases → adrenaline and noradrenaline facilitates → fight or flight

Question 18

What happens after the threat has passed?

Answer 18

parasympathetic NS returns to body to resting state (rest and digest).

The parasympathetic and sympathetic system work as an antagonistic pair: when one is active the other is not.

Question 19

Effects of adrenaline

Answer 19

• pupillary dilation
• inc heart rate
• rapid breathing
• blood sugar and fats released
• divert blood
• inc sweating

Question 20

Effects of adrenaline : pupillary dialation

Answer 20

Inc awareness of visual info

Question 21

Effects of adrenaline : inc heart rate

Answer 21

Push blood to muscles to enable action and to brain for rapid response planning

Question 22

Effects of adrenaline : rapid breathing

Answer 22

To take in more oxygen for muscle movement

Question 23

Effects of adrenaline : blood sugar and fats released

Answer 23

To blood stream for energy

Question 24

Effects of adrenaline : divert blood

Answer 24

From digestive system to conserve energy by contracting blood vessels

Question 25

Effects of adrenaline : inc sweating

Answer 25

To cool body

Question 26

HPA axis in stress response

Answer 26

1. Detect stress
2. Release CRH
3. Release ACTH
4. Stimulation of adrenal glands
5. Effects of cortisol
6. Short and long term effects

Question 27

Limitations of fight or flight theory

Answer 27

• stressors of modern life do not generally need such a physical reaction that gives us energy to fight or flight as they’re more psychological and longer term
• Taylor (2000) suggests females may display a different pattern to males. She argues that females protect themselves and their young through nurturing behaviors (tending) and forming protective alliances with other women (befriending).
• Gray (1988) argues that the first phase of reaction to a threat is not to fight or flee, but to avoid confrontation. He suggests that prior to responding with attacking or running away, most animals typically display the “freeze” response to “stop, look and listen” response.