nn

Question 1

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 1

Activates internal muscles, organs and glands to prepare the body for vigorous activity or to confront or flee a stressful/ threatening situation

Question 2

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 2

In times of minimal stress and in the absence of threat, it helps to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state of normal functioning (homeostasis)

Question 3

A neuron

Answer 3

• nerve cell that receives and transmits neural information

Question 4

Motor neurons

Answer 4

(also known as efferent neurons), which transmit neural messages about motor movement from the CNS to the PNS

Question 5

Sensory neurons

Answer 5

(also known as afferent neurons), which transmit neural messages about bodily sensations from the PNS to the CNS

Question 6

Interneurons

Answer 6

which transfer neural messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons. The CNS, including the brain and spinal cord, is made up of interneurons

Question 7

Conscious Response

Answer 7

a reaction that involves awareness to external and internal stimuli

Question 8

Unconscious Response

Answer 8

a reaction that does not involve conscious awareness

Question 9

Spinal Reflex

Answer 9

an unconscious and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli without any involvement of the brain (initiated by neurons in the spinal cord, called interneurons)

Question 10

Neurochemicals

Answer 10

chemical substances that transmit neural information

Question 11

Neurotransmitters

Answer 11

Chemical molecules that have an affect on one or two postsynaptic neurons

Question 12

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 12

stimulate postsynaptic neurons to perform their functions (increases likelihood of firing an AP)

Question 13

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 13

block, prevent, or suppress postsynaptic neurons from firing an AP

Question 14

Neuromodulators

Answer 14

Chemical molecules that have an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons

Question 15

Synaptic Plasticity

Answer 15

The ability of synaptic connections to change over time in response to activity or experience/learning

Question 16

Sprouting

Answer 16

the ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

Question 17

Re-routing

Answer 17

the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron

Question 18

Pruning

Answer 18

the elimination of synaptic connections that are not adequately activated or ineffective/weak/unused

Question 19

Long-term Potentiation

Answer 19

the long lasting strengthening of synaptic connections, due to repeated stimulation of neural pathways, resulting in the enhanced functioning of neural pathways

Question 20

Long-term Depression

Answer 20

the long-lasting decrease in the strength of neural pathways which results from prolonged and repeated low level stimulation or a lack of stimulation

Question 21

Stress -

Answer 21

A state of psychological and physiological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope

Question 22

Stressor

Answer 22

any person, situation or event that produces stress

Question 23

Eustress:

Answer 23

a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor, indicated by positive psychological states such as feeling enthusiastic and motivated, excited, active and alert

Question 24

Distress:

Answer 24

a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor, indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension

Question 25

Acute stress:

Answer 25

a form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief in duration

Question 26

Flight-fight-or-freeze:

Answer 26

an involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of either escaping it, confronting it or freezing

Question 27

Cortisol

Answer 27

primary stress hormone that energises the body by increasing energy supplies such as glucose

Question 28

Short term effects of cortisol

Answer 28

(adaptive): its effect on the body are positive as it increases our chances of survival by preparing the body for action For example, increasing blood sugar levels, improving metabolism, energising the body, reducing inflammation

Question 29

Long term effects of cortisol

Answer 29

(maladaptive): prolonged or intense stress, results in negative effects on the body and a suppressed immune system as cortisol levels in the body are too high. This is when additional physiological responses are required as the body cannot maintain the intensity of the FFF reactions. lead to impaired cognition, high blood pressure and lowered immunity, high anxiety

Question 30

Chronic Stress

Answer 30

ongoing demands, pressures and worries that are long-lasting. Resulting in increased arousal level that persists over a relatively long time

Question 31

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 31

when there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

Question 32

Coping flexibility

Answer 32

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations