Stress and Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What are the three types of stress?

Answer 1

Positive, tolerable, and toxic.

Question 2

What is positive stress?

Answer 2

A brief increase in heart rate and mild elevation of stress hormones. These are quick instances and can be beneficial to the person.

Question 3

What is tolerable stress?

Answer 3

Serious, temporary stress responses, buffered by supportive relationships. Tolerable stress can help build resilience.

Question 4

What is toxic stress?

Answer 4

Prolonged activation of stress response systems in the absence of protective relationships. This type of stress can be very dangerous.

Question 5

What main areas of the brain are affected by stress?

Answer 5

The prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus.

Question 6

How is the prefrontal cortex impacted by stress?

Answer 6

The prefrontal cortex is especially vulnerable to an elevation of brain chemicals caused by stress.

Question 7

When does the prefrontal cortex mature?

Answer 7

Later in childhood.

Question 8

How is the amygdala affected by stress?

Answer 8

Elevated cortisol levels cause hyperactivity in the amygdala.

Question 9

How does the amygdala change in children who experienced trauma in their childhood?

Answer 9

They have abnormally larger amygdalas.

Question 10

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 10

It is responsible for executive function, including thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Question 11

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 11

The amygdala triggers emotional responses and detects whether a stimulus is threatening.

Question 12

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 12

It is the centre of short-term memory, spatial navigation, and connects the emotion of fear to the context in which the threatening event occurs.

Question 13

When do the amygdala and hippocampus mature?

Answer 13

Both of them mature early in childhood.

Question 14

How does stress impact the hippocampus?

Answer 14

Elevated cortisol levels caused by stress can affect growth and performance. The hippocampus will then be limited in fear learning, and a narrows focus around fear.

Question 15

How does chronic stress affect neurons?

Answer 15

Chronic stress can cause neurons to grow, or shrink, but not necessarily to die.

Question 16

What happens to the neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus?

Answer 16

The neurons in this area will shrink.

Question 17

What happens to the neurons in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex?

Answer 17

Neurons here will grow. This is possible because the amygdala becomes hyperactive.

Question 18

How come some children suffer from more anxiety than others?

Answer 18

Genetically some people are more sensitive to stress.

Question 19

What is a dandelion child?

Answer 19

A dandelion child resembles a child who is resilient and indifferent to external conditions. No matter where they are planted, they can adapt and are stable.

They have a minimally reactive stress response and have average health under most conditions.

Question 20

What percent of the population are dandelion children?

Answer 20

80%.

Question 21

What is an orchid child?

Answer 21

Like orchids, these children are very sensitive to their external conditions. They have a highly reactive stress response but tend to have the best or worst health and performance depending on their environment.

Question 22

Do orchid children benefit from the environment?

Answer 22

They benefit the most from interventions and support because they take more from their environment, regardless if it is good or bad.

Question 23

How will a child develop in a nurturing environment?

Answer 23

This type of environment will support healthy brain development.

Question 24

How will a child develop if deprived and neglected?

Answer 24

Damage to proliferation and pruning of neural networks.

Question 25

How will a child develop if they are in an environment of active threat or abuse?

Answer 25

Induces fear learning in the hippocampus, and shortens the plasticity.