Quiz 2 Flashcards
Define stress.
the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it; also defined as events that are threatening
agonist
a drug that mimics or increases the effects of a NT
antagonist
a drug that blocks a NT
What is the limbic system?
responsible for emotional behaviors; interlinked structures that form a border around the brainstem
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
a condition resulting from a severe traumatic experience, leading to a long lasting state of frequent distressing recollections (flashbacks) and nightmare about the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of it, and exaggerated arousal in response to noises and other stimuli; intense disturbing thoughts and feelings long after an event has passed.
Define delusions.
unjustifiable beliefs, contrary to fact
-two types: bizarre (not plausible) and non-bizarre (could happen eg. stalking)
Positive symptoms
behaviors present that should be absent
eg. catatonic behavior (resistance to changes in posture or movement)
Bipolar disorder
a condition that alternates between depression and mania
In general an individual with bipolar disorder alternates between… and … and some have…
depression… mania… full-on manic episodes.
Panic disorder
a condition marked by frequent periods of anxiety and rapid breathing, increased heart rate, sweating and trembling, eg. sensory overload
Pure Autonomic Failure
a condition when the output from the autonomic nervous system to the body fails
Negative symptoms
behaviors that are absent that should normally be present eg. weak or absent signs of emotion, speech or socialization (flat affect, alogia)
Define cortisol
the “stress” hormone; enhances metabolic activity, elevates blood sugar, increases alertness, activates “fight or flight”
What is the psychological definition of emotion?
Cognitions (thoughts), feelings and actions
An individual with damage to the prefrontal cortex shows…
impairment in decision making and processing emotional info
The amygdala is the…
key area of learning what to fear
Medial prefrontal cortex most strongly inhibits/modifies…
the amygdala’s response to potential threatening stimuli
Startle responses are
greater when an individual is anxious
What is the HPA?
hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal cortex
Stress activates the …. & …
sympathetic NS … HPA
Brief stress …. the immune system but prolonged stress …. it.
activates… weakens
Why do nearly all infections produce similar effects? eg. sleepiness, fever, loss of energy
Prostaglandins (lipids that aid in recovery & stimulate the hypothalamus) are sent to the brain
Natural K(iller) cells
provide a rapid response to cells infected by viruses/bacteria; they attack ALL intruder (tumors, tissues, etc.)
Psytokenes
combat infections through the psytokene release system
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia an individual must
-deteriorate in daily function for at least 6 months for reasons not attributed to another disorder
-present with additional symptoms eg. delusions, hallucinations, disorg. speech, grossly disorg. behavior
Hallucinations are
false sensory experiences
Describe disorganized speech
rambling or incoherent speech
Describe grossly disorganized behavior
the weak or absent signs of emotion, speech and/or socialization
Avolition
the inability to initiate & participate in goal oriented tasks, eg. getting dressed, usually caused by damage to the dorsal lateral frontal cortex which matures very slowly
Major depressive disorder
feeling sad/helpless most of the day for weeks, can’t imagine enjoying anything
Seasonal Affective Disorder
depression that recurs during a particular season like winter
T Cells
directly attacks intruders
Leukocytes
white blood cells that help fight disease/immune cells
Cytokines
proteins that fight infection
Autoimmune disease
when the cells attack normal ones
The hypothalamus controls
most vital functions (fight, flee, feed, fornicate)
Prostaglandins
cross blood-brain barrier and induce fever, sleepiness, lack of energy, lack of appetite by stimulating the hypothalamus
Resilience
the ability to recover from traumatic experiences
Social support
best way to cope with stress, even helps reduce pain
