stress

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

any significant disturbance in homeostasis

Question 2

stressor

Answer 2

stimulus/agent that causes stress, or change in homeostasis; anything that changes overall arousal whether positive or negative

Question 3

stress response

Answer 3

physiological, behavioral, or psychological response to stressor with a goal of re-establishing homeostasis

Question 4

how stress is measured in animals

Answer 4

1. restraint
2. forced swim
3. cold exposure
4. dominance hierarchies **both alpha and sub stressed, magnitude of stress depends on species
5. predator
6. fear conditioning
7. chronic variable stress

Question 5

Canon: emergency theory of adrenal function

Answer 5

epinephrine released in response to stressor from adrenal medulla as a means of adapting to that stress

Question 6

epinephrine and fight or flight response

Answer 6

automatic and endocrine responses that prepare an individual to fight or flight from a real or perceived attack, harm, or threats to survival

Question 7

sympathetic NS anatomy

Answer 7

• thoracic lumbar
• short PRE ganglion neurons, long POST ganglion neurons
• short pre ganglion neurons synapse onto sympathetic chain ganglion

Question 8

parasympathetic NS anatomy

Answer 8

• cranial and sacral

- long pre ganglion neurons, short post ganglion neurons

Question 9

HPA axis

Answer 9

CRH–> ACTH–> cortisol (neg feedback on AP and Hypo)–> effects on metabolism (feed back on stressor to bring back body to homeostasis)

Question 10

effects of cortisol

Answer 10

1. maintain blood pressure
2. regulate cardiovascular function
3. increase blood glucose (decrease insulin)–> want to use, not store energy
4. regulate metabolism
5. decrease immune response (energy intensive)
6. decrease inflammation

Question 11

adaptive nature of stress response

Answer 11

-increase immediate available energy 
increase oxygen 
decrease blood flow to areas not necessary for movement 
inhibit energetically taxing processes 
decrease pain perception 
enhance sensory functioning and memory

Question 12

pathological signs of stress

Answer 12

peptic ulcers
adrenal hypertrophy
atrophy of thymus, spleen, lymph nodes
negative effects on cognition and memory

Question 13

chronic stress and dendritic morphology

Answer 13

decrease in DS length, dendritic spine density, and change in shape

HOWEVER can be reversed with rest and recovery (removal of stressor)

Question 14

cortisol and impairment of feedback pathway in hippocampus

Answer 14

chronic stress–> excessive release of cortisol–> damage of hippocampal neurons that feed onto the hypothalamus (can’t tell hypothalamus to turn of secretion of RH)–> unchecked CRH, ACTH, and cortisol–> more cortisol–> more destruction…

in healthy person, cortisol feeds back on hypo and AP to shut off RH and tropic hormones

Question 15

psychosocial elements of chronic stress

Answer 15

1. sense of control
2. predictability
3. frustration outlets
4. social supports
5. social rank (rats sub> alpha; dogs and mongooses a>s)
6. social stability
7. early life experiences