Biopsychology- Fight or flight response- role of adrenaline Flashcards
Where is the flight or flight response generated from?
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) - sympathetic nervous system
What is the fight or flight response ?
Reflex response designed to help a person manage physically when under threat.
Activates in times of stress - as body perceives this as a threat
What does fight or flight help?
An individual to react quicker than normal + facilitate optimal functioning so that they can fight the threat or run away from it
Describe the step by step fight or flight response
- Hypothalamus (endocrine gland) recognises that there is a threat
- sends a message
- To adrenal gland (specifically adrenal medulla)
- Triggers the release of
- Adrenaline to endocrine system + noradrenaline in the brain
- This prompts physical changes within the body
What do the physical changes in humans help?
An individual to fight or run away from the potential threatening situation
What are the physical changes prompted with the fight or flight response.
What is the purpose of these changes?
- Increased heart rate -> to speed up blood flow to vital organs + improve spread of adrenaline around the body
- Faster breathing rate-> increase oxygen intake
- Muscle tension -> improve reaction time + speed
- Pupil dilation -> improve vision
- Production of sweat -> facilitate temperature regulation
- Reduce functioning of digestive + immune system-> save energy for prioritised functions e.g running
What are limitations of this concept?
REDUCTIONIST -> attempt to reduce human behaviour + cognitive processes down to biological processes
Difficult to assess to what degree do biological structures effect behaviour. -> it is said they are a tool rather than a cause
CAUSE + EFFECT -> cannot be established. The only thing that can be established is the relationship between the biological influence + the behaviour
