Biopsychology: Fight or flight Flashcards
What is the function of the parasympathetic nervous system?
maintains normal bodily activity and reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system?
responds to threat by preparing the body for fight or flight response.
How does a fight or flight response occur?
the hypothalamus recognises that there is a threat.
It sends a message to the adrenal gland.
This triggers the release of adrenaline to the endocrine system and noradrenaline to the brain.
This prompts physical changes.
What physical changes occur during the fight or flight response due to the sympathetic nervous system?
increased heart rate- speed up blood flow and increase spread of adrenaline around the body.
faster breathing rate- increase oxygen uptake
muscle tension- improve reaction time and speed
sweat production- regulate temperature
reduced functioning of the digestive and immune system- save energy for prioritised functions such as running.
What happens once the threat has passed?
the parasympathetic branch returns the body to its resting state by working in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system.
What are the disadvantages of biological structures?
cause and effect cannot be established because most of the research is correlational so only the relationship between the biological influence and the behaviour can be investigated.
biological structures is seen as a reductionist explanation as it reduces everything down to biological processes and specific components- too simplistic.
What are the advantages of biological structures?
research is scientific and objective
more reliable.
