Final 8 (Neuroscience of Stress)

Question 1

Psychological and physiological response to a stimulus (stressor) that alters the body’s equilibrium

Answer 1

Stress

Question 2

What is the difference between stress and anxiety?

Answer 2

Stress is caused by an external trigger, anxiety is defined by persistent excessive worry that doesn’t go away even in the absence of a stimulus/stressor

Question 3

Explain the inverted U curve associated with level of stress (arousal and performance)

Answer 3

Performance can be impaired if arousal is too high but arousal can also support performance.

Difficult tasks are performed better during low stress levels.

Easy tasks are performed better during moderately high stress levels.

Question 4

There are two responses associated within the overall stress response, what are they?

Answer 4

1. Immediate response
2. Slightly delayed response

Question 5

Explain the immediate stress response

Answer 5

Sympathetic-adreno-medullar axis (SAM axis)

Primarily synaptic

Question 6

Explain the slightly delayed stress response

Answer 6

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Primarily hormonal

Question 7

The immediate stress response is primarily hormonal, true or false?

Answer 7

False, it is primarily synaptic

Question 8

The ____________ activates the immediate stress response

Answer 8

amygdala

Question 9

The amygdala activates the stress response, sending distress signals to the ________________.

Answer 9

hypothalamus

Question 10

The amygdala activates the stress response, sending distress signals to the hypothalamus. The ________________ activates the sympathetic nervous system resulting in epinephrine and norepinephrine release.

Answer 10

locus coeruleus

Question 11

How is the HPA axis activated?

Answer 11

Hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).

Pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Adrenal cortex releases cortisol.

Question 12

The HPA axis is heavily connected to other parts of the brain, what are they?

Answer 12

• Prefrontal cortex
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala

Question 13

Which three regions of the brain can regulate the HPA axis?

Answer 13

• Prefrontal cortex
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala

Question 14

Physiological processes that allow the body to achieve stability despite environmental change and challenge

Answer 14

Allostasis (homeostasis)

Question 15

Allostasis is coordinated by the…

Answer 15

HPA axis

Question 16

Explain the HPA axis-negative feedback loop

Answer 16

• Cortisol produced in the adrenal cortex inhibits the hypothalamus (CRH) and pituitary glands (ACTH)

Question 17

With chronic stress, the brain loses its ability to turn off the HPA axis, how does this occur?

Answer 17

• Abundance of cortisol and other neurotransmitters
• Chronic activation of the HPA axis can lead to cortisol resistance

Question 18

Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (SAM) and HPA axis, release of cortisol and catecholamines (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) results in a physiological response, explain

Answer 18

Increased heart rate and blood pressure, and faster, shallower breathing, increased availability of glucose

Question 19

Physical and psychological stressors are processed in the same brain circuits, true or false?

Answer 19

False, they are processed in overlapping but different brain circuits

Question 20

Physical stressors predominantly activate…

Answer 20

Autonomic stress responses (SAM axis) for a faster response

Question 21

Psychological stressors primarily activate…

Answer 21

The HPA axis (slower response)

Question 22

When alert and control, the _____________ is in charge. During acute stress, high levels of norepinephrine and dopamine switch the control from the ___________ to the _________________.

Answer 22

Prefrontal cortex

Prefrontal cortex to the limbic system

Question 23

An extreme state where stress responses are repeatedly activated and coping is inadequate

Answer 23

Allostatic overload

Question 24

Chronic stress can affect learning and memory through the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, how does this occur?

Answer 24

Reduced dendritic complexity

Question 25

Chronic stress can lead to hypertrophy of the amygdala, true or false?

Answer 25

True, this will lead to anxiety and aggression

Question 26

People with major depressive disorder have higher cortisol and ___________________ volumes.

Answer 26

Smaller hippocampal volumes

Question 27

Chronic stress can overactivate the _____________________

Answer 27

HPA axis

Question 28

Mind-body exercise may have a larger impact on chronic stress than other forms of exercise, why?

Answer 28

Activation of the parasympathetic system.

Yoga decreases cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Question 29

What happens in the brain when people practice yoga?

Answer 29

• Increased gray matter volume in the insula and hippocampus
• Increased activation in the prefrontal cortex

Question 30

Sighing may restore _____________ and ____________________.

Answer 30

Sighing may restore allostasis and autonomic regulation.

Question 31

The ___________ is activated very quickly, while the ___________ has a slightly delayed response.

Answer 31

The SAM axis is activated very quickly, while the HPA axis has a slightly delayed response.

Question 32

With chronic stress, the ability to shut off the HPA axis is reduced, true or false?

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Physical and psychological stressors activate different brain circuits, true or false?

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Stress can have a negative impact on…

Answer 34

Cognitive function

Question 35

Allostatic overload occurs when…

Answer 35

Stressors repeatedly exceed the ability to cope