Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PSYC 342 > Chapter 6 > Flashcards

Chapter 6 Flashcards

1
Q

Define transcription and translation

A
  • transcription: DNA is read by transcriptional factors that bind to DNA strands, ultimately producing mRNA
  • translation: mRNA read in triplets which gives code to put together amino acids necessary for prod of proteins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the promotor region of a gene

A
  • marks start of gene where transcription factor will bind
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

DNA methylation is an _____ process of long-term ___ that involves attaching a methyl group to cytosines in the promoter region of a gene

A

epigenetic; gene silencing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are 3 hormones that have transcriptional effects?

A
  • cortisol
  • GH
  • testosterone
    **all act in nucleus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is homeostasis

A

ability to maintain optimal conditions in the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

(T/F) there is always an external trigger for stress

A

FALSE, can be internal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 3 main categories of sources of stressors?

A
  • environmental factors
  • physiological factors
  • psychosocial factors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Stress can be defined as any significant _____

A

disturbance of homeostasis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the 2 key components of the stress response

A
  • epinephrine from adrenal medulla
  • glucocorticoids from adrenal cortex
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

current stress research focusses mainly on ___

A

psychological features of stress (mainly degree of control individual has over situation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who discovered the non-specificity of the stress response and what does this mean?

A
  • Hans Selye (rats injected w saline vs hormone had similar stress responses–probs due to manipulation)
  • epinephrine and glucocorticoids are released in response to almost any stressor
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the 3 stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome?

A
  1. Alarm Reaction Stage (fight or flight, low stress resistance)
  2. Stage of Resistance (body adapts to restore homeostasis)
  3. Stage of Exhaustion (can no longer cope w stressor, can even lead to death!)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are 2 key limitations to the homeostatic concept of stress?

A
  • does not address issue that psychological stressors can evoke full physiological stress response
  • does not account for individual differences in perception of stressors (ex sky diving)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the 3 elements of the modern definition of stress?

A
  • condition in which indiv is aroused by aversive stimuli
  • must perceive stimuli as aversive
  • lack of perceived control over aversive stimuli
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Within seconds of exposure to a stressor, the ____ secretes ____ and then the ______ secretes ______

A

sympathetic NS secretes norepinephrine; adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The effects of (epinephrine/norepinephrine) are 6x stronger than (epinephrine/norepinephrine)

A

epinephrine 6x stronger than norepinephrine

17
Q

Within the short-term stress response, epinephrine and norepinephrine lead to what 6 symptoms?

A
  • increased HR
  • increased BP
  • liver converts glycogen to glucose and releases it into blood
  • dilation of bronchioles
  • decreased digestive system activity and reduced urine output
  • increased metabolic rate
18
Q

How is the HPA axis involved in the stress response?

A
  • after release of nor/epinephrine
  • HYPOTHALAMUS releases corticotropin-releasing hormone
  • stimulates release of adrenocorticotropin hormone from anterior PITUITARY gland
  • within minutes ADRENAL cortex begins to secrete glucocorticoids
19
Q

In the long-term stress response, what are 2 impacts of mineralcorticoids and 3 impacts of glucocorticoids?

A

Mineralcorticoids:
- retention of sodium and water by kidneys
- increased BP and volume
Glucocorticoids:
- proteins/fats converted to glucose or used for energy
- increased blood glucose
- suppression of immune system

20
Q

(T/F) glucocorticoids are only involved in the long-term stress response

A

FALSE, also act on metabolic pathways within minutes to replenish energy reserves

21
Q

The fact that predators and prey experience similar acute stress responses is an example of ____

A

nonspecificity of the stress response

22
Q

The implication of a hormone in behaviour requires evidence of _____

A

hormonal signaling in the CNS

23
Q

Why are glucocorticoids good candidates for mediating behavioral effects of stress (3)?

A
  • released in response to numerous stressors
  • can easily diffuse past blood-brain barrier (so act on CNS unlike epinephrine which struggles to pass through)
  • there are glucocorticoid receptors in several brain regions
24
Q

How does corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) mediate the stress responsein the hypothalamus and the amygdala?

A
  • in hypothalamus: regulation of HPA axis
  • in amygdala: mediating anxiety response
25
Q

What are the 2 types of corticosteroid receptors in the hippocampus?

A
  • mineralcorticoid (MR): higher affinity, engaged under baseline conditions, role in homeostasis
  • glucocorticoid (GR): low-affinity (specific to cortisol), negative feedback to bring stress response under control
26
Q

Aldosterone is a _____ and cortisol is a ______

A

mineralcorticoid; glucocorticoid

27
Q

How does cortisol play a role in the short-term stress response?

A
  • via GABA and endocannabinoids
  • causes production of endocannabinoids which inhibit GABA secretion to disinhibit norepinephrine secretion
28
Q

What are 5 pituitary hormones that play an important role in the stress response?

A
  • ACTH
  • Vasopressin (enhances memory)
  • Urocortin (amplifies stress signals)
  • Prolactin (inhibits reproduction)
  • Endorphins and Enkephalins (pain relief, inhibit reproduction)
29
Q

What are the 4 of the most costly health diagnoses and what do they all have in common?

A
  • cardiovascular conditions
  • diabetes
  • depression
  • asthma
  • stress can play a role in all of them!!
30
Q

What is the pathological state ass w long-term stress for each of these acute stress responses?
- shift from energy storage to energy use
- increased cardiovascular tone
- inhibited digestion
- inhibit growth
- inhibited reproduction
- altered immune function
- enhanced cognition

A
  • shift from energy storage to energy use = fatigue, myopathy (muscle loss), steroid diabetes
  • increased cardiovascular tone = hypertension
  • inhibited digestion = peptic ulcers
  • inhibit growth = psychosocial dwarfism
  • inhibited reproduction = impotence, anovulation, loss of libido
  • altered immune function = impaired disease resistance, cancer
  • enhanced cognition = accelerated neural degeneration in aging
31
Q

What impact does moderate stress have on memory?

A
  • corticosteroids activate threat response which prompts hippocampus to consolidate stressful exp into memory
  • only works when stress is related to memory task
  • acute stress unrelated to memory task makes it harder to form memories
  • inverted U shape for effects of stress on memory
32
Q

What is hypercortisolism?

A
  • hippocampus, which is key part of HPA axis negative feedback, is damaged in chronic stress
  • vicious cycle, prolonged elevated glucocorticoids cause hippocampal dysfunction and impair negative feedback so glucocorticoid conc keeps going up
33
Q

How does the stress response differ in dominant and subordinate animals?

A
  • dominant: good cortisol response, have efficient HPA neg feedback system so can return cortisol to baseline faster
  • subordinate: blunted sensitivity to CRH so low cortisol response but long term elevation of glucocorticoids
34
Q

What was the Romanian example given of exposure to stress in humans?

A
  • stress via deprivation
  • forced increase in births led to lots of abandoned babies
  • orphanages w little human interaction and strict rules
  • children who remained in institutional care had significantly blunted sympathetic response
  • kids moved into foster care also had lasting damage
35
Q

kids with secure attachment styles have (higher/lower) cortisol levels

A

lower

36
Q
A

PSYC 342 (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions