STRESS: Bio - Cortisol A01

Question 1

What does HPA stand for?

Answer 1

Hypothalamic Pituitary-adrenal Pathway

Question 2

Hypothalamic Pituitary-adrenal Pathway Introduction

Answer 2

When stressor is encountered - both HPA & SAM pathways activate
Slower than the SAM response

Question 3

Hypothalamic Pituitary-adrenal Pathway Process

Answer 3

Hypothalamus produces corticotropin releasing hormones (CRH) into the bloodstream
Causing the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropin hormone
Stimulates adrenal cortex to release hormones such as cortisol

Question 4

Cortisol & Chronic Stress Names

Answer 4

Lacy et al.
Kuhlman et al.
Kiecolt-Glaser et al.

Question 5

Lacy et al.

Answer 5

Investigative study into a group of students preparing for exams
Compared to matched control group, students showed elevated cortisol levels one hour before the exam.

Question 6

Cortisol Introduction

Answer 6

A steroid hormone within a hormone family known as glucocorticoids

Central part of the central nervous system

• Involved in learning & memory
• Regulates glucose storage & the immune system

Question 7

Cortisol when released in response to stress

Answer 7

Acts to make an individual more able to deal with ongoing stressor

• Lowers sensitivity to pain
• Releases glucose for energy over sustained period of time

Question 8

Cortisol’s effects on memory

Answer 8

Effect of cortisol release during stress may be to impose memory

Kuhlman et al.
‘Mind goes blank’ -Students during exams

Question 9

Kuhlman et al.

Answer 9

Administered cortisol to women who were asked to learn a list of 30 words
- Those given cortisol - significantly reduced recall of words } particularly words that were negative
- Possible effect on memory implications for performance under stress

Question 10

Immunosuppression

Answer 10

Immune system responds to pathogen (virus) by attacking it
→ When faced with a stressor, the immune system is seen as a non-essential response and so is shut down to allow the body to divert energy elsewhere

Continued stressor = continued immunosuppression

Question 11

Cortisol’s Effects on Health

Answer 11

CAUSED BY IMMUNOSUPPRESSION Individual more at risk of illness (colds / infections / gastrointestinal problems, etc.)
- E.g. CUSHINGS SYNDROME: rare illness in which an individual has high levels of cortisol; these people are at higher risk of infectious diseases

Question 12

Kiecolt-Glaser et al.

Answer 12

investigated the effects of stress on the immune system

• Measured the natural killer (NK) cell activity in medical students one month before exams and during exam period
• NK cell activity = significantly reduced in blood sample taken during the exam period
• Students also responded to questionnaires - those with the highest SSR questionnaire results had the lowest NK cell activity