Stress, Arousal And Circadian Rhythms Flashcards
How can someone’s self esteem effect their stress levels
People with low self esteem have high stress levels and vis versa
What is the most stress inducing scenario a person can be in and who founded it
Dickerson and Kemeny 2004 - motivated performance + motivation + social evaluation threat
What is the trier social stress test
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
What is said to be the most stressful part of the trier social stress test
The anticipatory period
Where is cortisol typically found
The hippocampus & pre-frontal cortex
What does the amygdala do when we’re stressed
It hijacks the brain
What is emphasised when the amygdala hijacks the brain during stress
You perceive threat more, you have more anxiety, have nightmares
What part of the brain is most effected when someone suffers from chronic and acute stress
The hippocampus and frontal cortex
What kind of memories does the hippocampus store and create
Episodic memories
How does being stressed effect your ability to create new memories
It helps create and save memories for survival reasons
What is flashbulb memory
They’re very powerful and strong memories
Does stress make you focus on one thing
Yes
When we’re stressed, does it make it harder or easier to recall memories
Harder
What are the effects of having blunt cortisol stress reactivity
Low cognitive ability, more rapid cognitive decline, poor lung functions
What’s are the effects of having exaggerated cortisol stress reactivity
Hypertension, coronary artery calcification (after 3 years)
Is it better to have a small amount of cortisol or a larger amount
Neither
What area of the brain structure is most effected by stress
The hippocampus
What mental health disorder causes the structure of the hippocampus to change
Depression
What is hypothesis
The theory that memories are impaired so we are unable to recall them so we don’t cause ourselves stress over it
How are women’s cortisol levels who suffer with depression and anxiety
Blunted
How are men’s cortisol levels who suffer with depression and or anxiety
Enhanced
What mental health condition in both men and women blunts cortisol levels
Schizophrenia
What is the circadian rhythm
The biological rhythm
What things dos the circadian rhythm control
Sleeping schedule, appetite, body temp, volume of urine, production of hormones, balance of immune system
What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the early morning
Deep sleep, body temp trough, melatonin decrease, cortisol increase
When is cortisol at its peak in your circadian rhythm
In the morning
What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the early after noon
High alertness, no melatonin, cortisol levels decreasing
What is happening in your circadian rhythm in the evening
Peak muscle strength, body temp at peak, melatonin increases, cortisol trough
What is the cycle of alertness in the circadian rhythm
Increases during the day and then decreases towards the end of the
What is the cycle of you’re body temp in the circadian rhythm
Increases throughout the day and then decreases at the end of the
What is the cycle of melatonin in the circadian rhythm
Doesn’t come up till late afternoon
What is the cycle of cortisol int eh circadian rhythm
It peaks in the morning and decreases throughout the day
What stimuli regulates the circadian rhythm
Sunlight
How does the circadian rhythm explain jet lag
Because it relies on the sun, when we go to a different county, our body clock is still set to home time
What is zeitgeber
It is when you reset you biological rhythm
What are some examples of zeitgeber
Eating at a different time, noise, temp, being out later than usual
What are the 2 main parts of the hypothalamus that help regulate the circadian rhythm
The paraventricular nucleus and the suprachiasmatic nucleus
What does the paraventricular nucleus do
It helps rest the circadian rhythm, notifies the suprachiasmatic nucleus
What does the suprachiasmatic nucleus do
It tells the brain what to do in regards to the circadian rhythm, it keeps everything synchronised
What pathways does the suprachiasmatic nucleus use to do its job around the brain
Neuronal pathways and secreted neuromodulators
What is the circadian system model
Light —> input (the pathway that restarts the clock) —> oscillator —> output (the pathway that translates the oscillator into behavioural and physiological rhythms)
Where is the suprachiasmatic nucleus places in the brain
It is paved between the visual and the neuroendocrine pathways
What is the retinochypothalamic pathway
It is the pathway that carries epochal cells to detect light and send the info to the suprachiasmatic nucleus
What chemical mediates the special photoreceptors in our eyes that detect light for the circadian rhythm
Melanospin
What is the relationship between the SCN and PN
The SCN influences the PN for HPA access
What would a health sleep pattern profile look like
A steep profile
What is the cortisol awakening response
It is the rapid increase of cortisol when someone wakes up
How long does the cortisol awakening response last
30-40 mins
How does age effect the cortisol awakening response
It decreases with age
Is cortisol light sensitive
Yes
How is the CAR related to seasonal effective disorder
It effects it in the winter and not summer
What factors impact CAR
Light, waking up times, prior day experiences, anticipation of challenge, ovulation, alcohol consumption
How is CAR effected by waking times
The earlier you wake up, the more CAR
How does anticipation of challenge effect CAR
It increases it
How does prior day experiences effect CAR
A good day increases CAR
What is the boost theory for CAR
CAR is made for survival so we are ready int he morning
How does the days of the week effect CAR
On the weekdays you have more CAR
How is CAR distributed
The the SCN
What is the process of the CAR being produced
Light —> retina —> PV-CRH-anterior pituitary-ACHT—>adrenal cortex—>cortisol secretion
Does the circadian rhythm need light to reset
Yes
When did the CAR predict better executive function during the day
45 mins after waking up
What informs the peripheral clocks in the circadian rhythm
Hormones, neurons, body temp. Etc.
What does glucocorticoid rhythm have to do with the circadian rhythm
works to synchronise circadian rhythms of peripheral clocks with the SCN master clock
