Stress

Question 1

The term “stress” comes from _____, that borrowed it from _________

Answer 1

Hans Selye, engineering

Question 2

Stress def

Answer 2

Non specific response of the body to any demand for change.

Question 3

Stressor

Answer 3

External demand that creates a challenge to homeostasis (physiological equilibrium).
=> Can be ACTUAL dangers or GOOD things (e.g. baby)

Question 4

Stress response

Answer 4

How the organism reacts both physically or psychologically to a stressor.

Question 5

Explain Physiological Stress response (general)

Answer 5

Hypothalamus => Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
(1) Sympathetic Adrenomedullary System (SAM) => Fast
(2) Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis => Slow

Question 6

Sympathetic Adrenomedullary System (SAM) in Stress

Answer 6

Rapid fight-or-flight response. Hypo causes inner portion of adrenal glands to secrete ADRENALINE & NORE => Increased excitation of body’s periphery (heart rate, pupils, digestion, glucose…) => Allows organism to escape danger.

Question 7

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis in Stress

Answer 7

Slower, manage energy and inflammation. Hypo secrets Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)→ stimulates the Pituitary gland → secrets Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) →Induces the Adrenal cortex to produce Glucortinoids (cortisol) => Aids in fight/flight response (provides organism w energy for sustained escape + INHIBIT immune system)

Question 8

Allostatic load

Answer 8

Cost for mobilizing stress response. Wear and tear from repeated and long-term stress exposure.
=> Allostatic overload suggests prolonged stress can harm multiple biological systems, increasing disease risk.

Question 9

Cortisol is critical for brain maturation: (3)

Answer 9

(1) Intente terminal maturation (develop neuronal connections)
(2) Remodel axons and dentrites
(3) Too little or too much cortisol = cell death => Looking for happy medium

Question 10

Hippocampus function (5)

Answer 10

(1) Very sensitive to stress exposure/response.
(2) Critical to memory, stress regulation.
(3) Shares reciprocal connections with the hypothalamus (major neural controller of endocrine system).
(4) High concentrations of cortisol receptors
(5) Hippocampus helps to regulate HPA axis => If hippocampus damaged, it can result in cortisol hyper-secretion

Question 11

[Hippocampus]
⇒ Acute stress _____________.
⇒ Chronic stress results in ________________________.

Answer 11

suppresses hippocampal activity, decreased hippocampal volumes

Question 12

PFC function (2)

Answer 12

(1) Important for decision-making, working memory, self-regulatory behaviors, mood, impulse control.
(2) Slower to develop - Bc it’s in development, it’s easier to inflict damage on that system

Question 13

[PFC]
=> Repeated stress exposure causes ____________.
=> Chronic stress exposure associated with ______________.

Answer 13

dendritic shortening, decreased volume of PFC (Either through cell death or reduced connections)

Question 14

Propertiesof stressors closely linked with disease risk (3)

Answer 14

Perceived as:
(1) Uncontrollable
(2) Unpredictable
(3) Severe

Question 15

Five general patterns of Early Life Stress (ELS)

Answer 15

(1) ELS is common
(2) ELS increases risk for developing a lifetime mental disorder compared to no ELS
(3) ELS is associated with virtually all commonly occurring forms of psychopathology–it appears to benon-specific
(4) ELS is associated with increased vulnerability to psychopathology that persists across the life course
(5) ELS explains a substantial proportion of mental disorder onsets in the population (~30%).

Question 16

Fetal programming

Answer 16

Suggests certain events occurring during critical points of pregnancy may cause permanent effects on the fetus and the infant long after birth.

Question 17

The more severe the mothers’objective exposureandsubjective stressfrom a major flood during pregnancy, thegreaterthe child’s ____________________ in response to stress.

Answer 17

cortisol reactivityincrease

Question 18

Maternal stress may be transmitted to the fetus via ___________________________.

Answer 18

high levels ofglucocorticoids(e.g., cortisol)
=> Cortisol may pass through the placenta, and/or stimulate receptors on the placenta to increase cortisol production.

Question 19

Stress and Cognitive Function (3)

Answer 19

(1) Acute stress can interfere with goal pursuit/ learning
(2) Stressed participants tend to fall back on habitual behavior
(3) Less prone to learn novel contingencies, learn from reinforcement

Question 20

Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

Answer 20

Huge stressing experience. Go in a room.
Facing panel of judges.
They tell you that you have to give a speech in front of a big audience in 1min.
Write your speech while judges look at them w neutral faces.
+
You have to count BACKWARDS from 3033 by sevens.
- EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, JUDGES WILL SAY “STOP, YOU MADE A MISTAKE”

Question 21

Physical exercise can protect against ________________ associated with chronic stress.

Answer 21

hippocampal degeneration

Question 22

Sleep deprivation increases ___________ & can affect _______________

Answer 22

allostatic load, hippocampal volumes