Stress

Question 1

What’s a stressor?

Answer 1

A stress-eliciting stimulus.

Question 2

Definitions of stress

Answer 2

Bernard (1865): a response to an external stimulus that seeks to return the system to homeostasis.

Cannon (1926): fight or flight response

Selye (1956): the non-specific response of the body to any demand

Question 3

Physiological hallmarks of a stress response

Answer 3

Sympathetic nervous system activated: increased blood flow to brain, increased blood pressure, pupils dilate, cortisol and DHEA hormones released, digestion slows down,

Question 4

The HPA Axis

Answer 4

Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal axis is activated when we experience acute stress.
Hypothalamic neurons within the HPA axis secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone that causes the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary. The ACTH causes the adrenal gland to secrete cortisol (sciencedirect.com)

Question 5

Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) pathway

Answer 5

Involved in recovery, adaptation, and homeostasis. Genomic–Slow transcriptional regulation of multiple genes

Question 6

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) pathway

Answer 6

Fast, non-genomic. Activation, appraisal, decision making

Question 7

Methods of laboratory stress induction

Answer 7

1. Physiological: submerge limb in ice-bath
2. Psychosocial: mock interview
3. Drug manipulation

Question 8

Physiological measures of stress

Answer 8

heart rate, blood pressure, electrodermal

Question 9

Effects of chronic stress on the amygdala

Answer 9

Persistent dendritic growth, hyper responsive

Question 10

Effects of chronic stress on the hippocampus

Answer 10

Reversible dendritic atrophy, reduced volume

Question 11

Effects of chronic stress on the medial prefrontal cortex

Answer 11

Atrophy, lowered responsiveness,