Physiology Of Stress

Question 1

What are the two types of stress?

Answer 1

• acute ( short term)

- chronic (long term)

Question 2

Who developed the general adaptation syndrome? And what is it?

Answer 2

• Hans Selye
• three stages
• 1. Alarm
• 2. Resistance
     
     3. Exhaustion

Question 3

What is alarm in GAS?

Answer 3

• hypothalamus signal to the systematic nervous system which activates the adrenal medulla. Releasing adrenaline and nor adrenaline

Question 4

What is the resistance stage in GAS?

Answer 4

• if stress continues
• SNS activity decreases = decrease in ad + nor
• adrenal cortex activity increase = increase in cortisol.
• ACTH activated as well as hypothalamus
• cortisol increase blood sugar level for more energy to combat stress

Question 5

What is the exhaustion stage of GAS?

Answer 5

If stress further continues

• blood sugar levels drop because cortisol drops.
• = high blood pressure
• heart disease
• ulcers in stomach and small intestines.

Question 6

What is the research from Hans Selye? And what does it show?

Answer 6

• used rats
• exposed then to heat, cold, noise, exercise and injections of organs

= enlarges adrenal gland

= smaller thymus, spleen and lymph glands

Ulcers in stomach and small intestine.

• shows there is only one body stress response. ✅ GAS.

Question 7

Give me some evaluation for GAS.

Answer 7

✅led to further research in the field of stress- how to deal with it.

❌ extrapolation issues humans and rats genetically very different.

❌ deterministic - believes the outcome to be the same for everyone- however good for psychology as it sets a general law.

Question 8

What is the process of the body for chronic stress?

Answer 8

Stressor 
Hypothalamus 
Corticotrophin releasing hormone 
Pituitary gland 
ACTH
Adrenal cortex 
Cortisol 

• which caused immunosuppression
• a steady supply of energy
• increases pain tolerance
• impaired cognitive functioning

Question 9

What is the body’s response to acute stress?

Answer 9

Stressor
Hypothalamus 
Systematic nervous system 
Adrenal medulla 
Adrenaline/ noradrenaline 
- this causes 
Increase heart rate - blood pressure 
- decrease digestive system 
- increases sweating.
- fight or flight system