Stress Flashcards
top stressors in canada
work, money, relationships, health
What are the two main systems involved in the body’s stress response?
SAM (Sympathetic Adrenomedullary System) and HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis
What hormone is released by the HPA axis?
Cortisol
What is allostatic load?
The cumulative wear and tear on the body due to chronic stress.
How does chronic stress affect the hippocampus?
Decreased volume, altered function, decreased dendritic arborization, can result in cortisol hypersecretion.
How does chronic stress affect the prefrontal cortex?
Dendritic shortening, decreased volume.
What cognitive functions does the prefrontal cortex support?
Decision-making, working memory, self-regulatory behaviors, mood, impulse control.
Certain properties of stressors may be more closely link with psychiatric disorders, what are they?
- uncontrollable
- unpredictable
- severe
How might maternal stress during pregnancy affect the fetus?
Via high levels of glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) passing through the placenta, potentially leading to hypersensitive stress response systems in the infant.
What is “fetal programming”?
The idea that maternal stress can be transmitted to the fetus, influencing the development of their stress response systems.
How does social support impact stress and health outcomes?
Reduces mortality risk, helps people recover from stress, lowers blood pressure/cortisol.
How does exercise help with stress?
Protects against hippocampal degeneration, reduces physiological reactivity to stressors, improves mood.
How much sleep is generally considered optimal for adults?
7-9 hours
What cognitive ability can protect against the negative effects of stress on cognitive function?
Greater working memory capacity.
