Stress Flashcards
Stage 3 of stress response
Exhaustion. Reserves of resources are depleted
How does stress arise?
When we deplete the resources we have to fight stress
What does cortisol binding to glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus cause?
Less CRH release from hypothalamus which leads to less ACTH release by the pituitary which leads to less cortisol release by the adrenal gland
What does the hypothalamus use to communicate with the pituitary gland in the HPA axis?
Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)
What NTs are released by the SAM system?
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
What do more connections in the amygdala cause?
Earlier activation with less input
Communicates from the pituitary to the adrenal gland
ACTH
What things contribute to someone experiencing stress?
Short term vs long term, social support, personality, attitude, and locus of control
What NTs are released by the HPA axis?
Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
What does more stress lead to in term of behavior?
Worse behavior which leads to a weakened immune system
Stress and the common cold
More stress = more likely to get cold but must be exposed to virus to get it
What changes are seen in neurons exposed to long term stress (cortisol) in the hippocampus and the amygdala?
Hippocampus = Less spines, inhibited neurogenesis Amygdala = More connections
This system provides a slower and longer stress response
Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA)
What does prolonged stress do in the HPA axis?
Disrupts negative feedback
What neurons are the most susceptible to apoptosis when there is too much cortisol and why?
Hippocampal neurons bc they contain the most cortisol receptors
Caused by an existing stress-causing factor or stressor
Stress
Stress that continues after the stressor is gone
Anxiety
How does maternal care impact stress (epigenetics)
Offspring with more nurture had milder HPA axis responses, more cort control, a good number of cort receptors
What are the 3 stages of the general adaptation response to stress
- alarm
- resistance
- exhaustion
This NT is helpful in small amounts but harmful in large amounts
Cortisol
Pathway goes from hypothalamus to pituitary to adrenal gland
Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA)
How is the HPA axis stopped from producing more cortisol?
Hippocampus has receptor sites for cortisol that act to inhibit excessive release of CRH
Glucocorticoid receptor gene and epigenetics
More GR protein = calm down faster, good when need to explore and find food
Less GR protein = more prolonged stress, good in environment with lots of predators
What does too much calcium cause?
The cell is so depolarized it cant get back to resting. Apoptosis
Illness producing substances
Antigens
What else does too much cortisol cause other than too much calcium entering cells?
Increases amount of NT release
Communicates from the hypothalamus to the pituitary
CRH
Pathway goes from nerve impulses to spinal cord to preganglionic sympathetic fibers to adrenal glands
Sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM)
What stress NTs are immunosuppressive?
Catecholamines and cortisol
What types of personalities are at a higher risk for stress?
Competitive (type A)
Increases energy by converting proteins to glucose, increasing fat availability, and increasing metabolism
HPA axis. Cortisol
What is used to communicate between the pituitary and adrenal gland in the HPA axis?
ACTH
This system provides a fast stress response
Sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM)
Illness producing organisms
Pathogens
What do studies for stress and depression share?
They are the same
How is the HPA axis activated?
- sensory info about threat reaches amygdala
- amygdala sends signals to hypothalamus via stira terminalis
- paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus releases CRH
- anterior pituitary releases ACTH
- ACTH causes adrenal glands to release cortisol
- cortisol reaches neurons in brain causing inc release of NTs
- hippocampus has receptor sites for cortisol, acts to inhibit excessive release of CRH
Stage 2 of stress response
Resistance. Continue coping using resources to cope
Long term effects of cortisol on calcium and the cell
Increases the amount of calcium entering the cells which can be excitotoxic and cause neurons to go through apoptosis
What area of the hippocampus has its cells destroyed in the presence of too much cortisol?
Cells in CA1 of they hippocampus
Stress coping strategies
Good sleep, balanced diet, aerobic exercise, face to face social networking (oxytocin), cognitive restructuring
What does the amygdala stimulate in the HPA axis?
CRH release in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
Increases output from heart and liberates glucose from muscles for additional energy (gets us ready to go and uses our energy)
SAM system. Epinephrine and norepinephrine
Increases cells and cell products that kill infected and malignant cells and protect the body against foreign substances and may increase neurogenesis
Acute stress
Stage 1 of stress response
Alarm. Fight/flight response
Where are glucocorticoid receptors in the HPA axis that are involved in negative feedback?
Hippocampus, hypothalamus, and pituitary. Hippocampus most important
Compromises the immune system, interferes with memory, appetite, sexual desire and performance, energy, mood, and makes you more vulnerable to disease
Chronic stress
What can stress cause in the heart?
Inc blood pressure that leads to greater risk for heart attack
What does prenatal stress cause in adulthood?
Increased volume in lateral amygdala
