Stress, Arousal And Circadian Rhythms

Question 1

How can someone’s self esteem effect their stress levels

Answer 1

People with low self esteem have high stress levels and vis versa

Question 2

What is the most stress inducing scenario a person can be in and who founded it

Answer 2

Dickerson and Kemeny 2004 - motivated performance + motivation + social evaluation threat

Question 3

What is the trier social stress test

Answer 3

It is when a participant is placed in front of 3 professionals, the participant has to present a topic that the 3 professionals are experts in. The room is full of cameras and microphones, the participant has a period of time to create a presentation on the subject. The professionals must not shoe any emotion at all. The participants then need to present their presentation. The participant must also so an arithmetic test

Question 4

What is said to be the most stressful part of the trier social stress test

Answer 4

The anticipatory period

Question 5

Where is cortisol typically found

Answer 5

The hippocampus & pre-frontal cortex

Question 6

What does the amygdala do when we’re stressed

Answer 6

It hijacks the brain

Question 7

What is emphasised when the amygdala hijacks the brain during stress

Answer 7

You perceive threat more, you have more anxiety, have nightmares

Question 8

What part of the brain is most effected when someone suffers from chronic and acute stress

Answer 8

The hippocampus and frontal cortex

Question 9

What kind of memories does the hippocampus store and create

Answer 9

Episodic memories

Question 10

How does being stressed effect your ability to create new memories

Answer 10

It helps create and save memories for survival reasons

Question 11

What is flashbulb memory

Answer 11

They’re very powerful and strong memories

Question 12

Does stress make you focus on one thing

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

When we’re stressed, does it make it harder or easier to recall memories

Answer 13

Harder

Question 14

What are the effects of having blunt cortisol stress reactivity

Answer 14

Low cognitive ability, more rapid cognitive decline, poor lung functions

Question 15

What’s are the effects of having exaggerated cortisol stress reactivity

Answer 15

Hypertension, coronary artery calcification (after 3 years)

Question 16

Is it better to have a small amount of cortisol or a larger amount

Answer 16

Neither

Question 17

What area of the brain structure is most effected by stress

Answer 17

The hippocampus

Question 18

What mental health disorder causes the structure of the hippocampus to change

Answer 18

Depression

Question 19

What is hypothesis

Answer 19

The theory that memories are impaired so we are unable to recall them so we don’t cause ourselves stress over it

Question 20

How are women’s cortisol levels who suffer with depression and anxiety

Answer 20

Blunted

Question 21

How are men’s cortisol levels who suffer with depression and or anxiety

Answer 21

Enhanced

Question 22

What mental health condition in both men and women blunts cortisol levels

Answer 22

Schizophrenia

Question 23

What is the circadian rhythm

Answer 23

The biological rhythm

Question 24

What things dos the circadian rhythm control

Answer 24

Sleeping schedule, appetite, body temp, volume of urine, production of hormones, balance of immune system

Question 25

What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the early morning

Answer 25

Deep sleep, body temp trough, melatonin decrease, cortisol increase

Question 26

When is cortisol at its peak in your circadian rhythm

Answer 26

In the morning

Question 27

What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the early after noon

Answer 27

High alertness, no melatonin, cortisol levels decreasing

Question 28

What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the evening

Answer 28

Peak muscle strength, body temp at peak, melatonin increases, cortisol trough

Question 29

What is the cycle of alertness in the circadian rhythm

Answer 29

Increases during the day and then decreases towards the end of the

Question 30

What is the cycle of you’re body temp in the circadian rhythm

Answer 30

Increases throughout the day and then decreases at the end of the

Question 31

What is the cycle of melatonin in the circadian rhythm

Answer 31

Doesn’t come up till late afternoon

Question 32

What is the cycle of cortisol int eh circadian rhythm

Answer 32

It peaks in the morning and decreases throughout the day

Question 33

What stimuli regulates the circadian rhythm

Answer 33

Sunlight

Question 34

How does the circadian rhythm explain jet lag

Answer 34

Because it relies on the sun, when we go to a different county, our body clock is still set to home time

Question 35

What is zeitgeber

Answer 35

It is when you reset you biological rhythm

Question 36

What are some examples of zeitgeber

Answer 36

Eating at a different time, noise, temp, being out later than usual

Question 37

What are the 2 main parts of the hypothalamus that help regulate the circadian rhythm

Answer 37

The paraventricular nucleus and the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Question 38

What does the paraventricular nucleus do

Answer 38

It helps rest the circadian rhythm, notifies the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Question 39

What does the suprachiasmatic nucleus do

Answer 39

It tells the brain what to do in regards to the circadian rhythm, it keeps everything synchronised

Question 40

What pathways does the suprachiasmatic nucleus use to do its job around the brain

Answer 40

Neuronal pathways and secreted neuromodulators

Question 41

What is the circadian system model

Answer 41

Light —> input (the pathway that restarts the clock) —> oscillator —> output (the pathway that translates the oscillator into behavioural and physiological rhythms)

Question 42

Where is the suprachiasmatic nucleus places in the brain

Answer 42

It is paved between the visual and the neuroendocrine pathways

Question 43

What is the retinochypothalamic pathway

Answer 43

It is the pathway that carries epochal cells to detect light and send the info to the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Question 44

What chemical mediates the special photoreceptors in our eyes that detect light for the circadian rhythm

Answer 44

Melanospin

Question 45

What is the relationship between the SCN and PN

Answer 45

The SCN influences the PN for HPA access

Question 46

What would a health sleep pattern profile look like

Answer 46

A steep profile

Question 47

What is the cortisol awakening response

Answer 47

It is the rapid increase of cortisol when someone wakes up

Question 48

How long does the cortisol awakening response last

Answer 48

30-40 mins

Question 49

How does age effect the cortisol awakening response

Answer 49

It decreases with age

Question 50

Is cortisol light sensitive

Answer 50

Yes

Question 51

How is the CAR related to seasonal effective disorder

Answer 51

It effects it in the winter and not summer

Question 52

What factors impact CAR

Answer 52

Light, waking up times, prior day experiences, anticipation of challenge, ovulation, alcohol consumption

Question 53

How is CAR effected by waking times

Answer 53

The earlier you wake up, the more CAR

Question 54

How does anticipation of challenge effect CAR

Answer 54

It increases it

Question 55

How does prior day experiences effect CAR

Answer 55

A good day increases CAR

Question 56

What is the boost theory for CAR

Answer 56

CAR is made for survival so we are ready int he morning

Question 57

How does the days of the week effect CAR

Answer 57

On the weekdays you have more CAR

Question 58

How is CAR distributed

Answer 58

The the SCN

Question 59

What is the process of the CAR being produced

Answer 59

Light —> retina —> PV-CRH-anterior pituitary-ACHT—>adrenal cortex—>cortisol secretion

Question 60

Does the circadian rhythm need light to reset

Answer 60

Yes

Question 61

When did the CAR predict better executive function during the day

Answer 61

45 mins after waking up

Question 62

What informs the peripheral clocks in the circadian rhythm

Answer 62

Hormones, neurons, body temp. Etc.

Question 63

What does glucocorticoid rhythm have to do with the circadian rhythm

Answer 63

works to synchronise circadian rhythms of peripheral clocks with the SCN master clock