Psychology-Stress Flashcards
Allostasis
Active process by which the body responds to daily events in order maintain homeostasis
How does stress contribute to physiologic and psychological tolls on the body?
Allostatic overload. Repeated chronic stressors that does not recover.
What three structures are associated with stress?
Sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight), hypothalamic-pituitary access (paraventricular nucleus -> CRF -> anterior pituitary -> ACTH -> adrenal gland -> cortisol) and the limbic system (hippocampus enhances & inhibits memory, amygdala aids in initiating appropriate response to stimulus, prefrontal cortex inhibition over amygdala
How does allostatic overload contribute to decreased memory?
Overactivation of the hippocampus by cortisol can cause it to atrophy. Also note that the hippocampus normally inhibits the HPA, if the hippocampus is damaged, it can no longer inhibit cortisol activation by the HPA.
How does allostatic overload contribute to increased memory?
NE integrates with cortisol to facilitate memory
What happens to the amygdala in response to chronic stress?
It becomes overactivated.
How does chronic stress on the prefrontal cortex affect a person?
Decreased inhibition of the amygdala causes overactivation of the amygdala.
Why do people smoke pot to relieve stress?
THC binds to receptors on the prefrontal cortex that mitigate the effects of stress.
Appraisal
As you perceive an environmental stress, your brain determines how serious of a threat it is
Difference in men’s response to stress vs. women’s?
Men: fight or flight. Women: tend and befriend.
How does stress affect the immune system?
Acute = increases immune resistance. Chronic = decreases immune resistance.
Cardiac effects of stress
Atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart attacks
GI effects from stress
Ulcers, IBS, obesity
Acute pharmacologic agents used for stress reduction
Anxiolytics, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and pain relievers.
2 types of coping with stress
Problem-focused (you can mitigate stress by a plan). Emotion-focused (regulating negative emotions)
