General Adaptation Syndrome Flashcards
What is the GAS model?
The GAS model, or General Adaptation Syndrome, is a 3-stage process that describes the physiological changes that happen to the body when stressed.
Who first identified stress as physiological?
Hans Selye in 1963 was the first psychologist to identify stress as physiological.
What was Selye’s experiment?
Selye exposed male rats to stress, surgical injury, and extreme cold, finding that the response was the same regardless of the stressor.
What is the purpose of the GAS model?
The GAS model helps us to survive, but only in the short term.
What happens in Stage 1 of the GAS model?
In Stage 1, the Alarm Reaction, a threat or stressor is identified in the hypothalamus, triggering the fight or flight response.
What occurs in Stage 2 of the GAS model?
In Stage 2, Resistance, after short-term stress, the body returns to normal, but long-term stress builds up body resources, making it appear as if the body is coping while the immune system deteriorates.
What happens in Stage 3 of the GAS model?
In Stage 3, Exhaustion, resources are depleted, initial symptoms may return, the immune system is compromised, and adrenal glands are damaged.
What does SAM stand for?
SAM stands for Sympatho-Adreno-Medullary.
What type of stress does the SAM system respond to?
The SAM system responds to acute (one-off) stress.
What happens when the SAM system is activated?
When the SAM system is activated, the sympathetic stress branch of the ANS is triggered, stimulating the adrenal gland to release adrenaline into the bloodstream.
What occurs after the stressor disappears in the SAM system?
After the stressor disappears, the parasympathetic ANS is stimulated to return to a relaxed state.
What does HPA stand for?
HPA stands for Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal.
What type of stress does the HPA system respond to?
The HPA system responds to chronic (long-term) stress.
How do the SAM and HPA systems interact?
When the SAM system activates, the HPA system also starts.
What role does the hypothalamus play in the HPA system?
The hypothalamus activates both the HPA and SAM systems by releasing CRF into the bloodstream.
What does the pituitary gland do in the HPA system?
The pituitary gland detects CRF and releases ACTH into the bloodstream.
What does the adrenal cortex release in the HPA system?
In the HPA system, the adrenal cortex releases cortisol.
