Unit 3 AOS 1 Flashcards
Spinal reflex process
- Dangerous stimuli is detected by sensory receptors, Information sent to interneurons
- Interneuron relays information from sensory neuron to motor neurons
- Motor neurons initiate unconscious response
4.Person registers pain as sensory message reaches brain
Long term potentiation (LTP)
Relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated activation
Long term depression
Relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated low level activation
Rerouting and pruning definition
Rerouting- the ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with
an undamaged neuron
Pruning- removal of synaptic connections that aren’t adequately activated
Synapse
includes axon terminals of presynaptic neuron, synaptic gap and dendrites on postsynaptic neuron
Synaptic plasticity
change that occurs to a synapse between two neurons which could lead to an increase or decrease in activity
dendritic spine
dendritic fibres that grow from dendrites
Conscious response
deliberate and voluntary action initiated by the brain
Unconscious response
automatic and involuntary action performed by the body independently of the brain
Gut-brain axis
bi-directional relationship between the gut and the brain
Lazarus and Folkmans Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
Stress resulting from psychological appraisal of a stressor
Primary appraisal
- deciding if stimulus will cause stress (benign-positive, irrelevant, stressful)
- Stressor is appraised (Harm/loss, threat, challenege)
Secondary appraisal
Deciding if there’s coping strategies and what those are
Categorised into emotion based strategies or problem based strategies
GAS
physiological reaction that a person experiences in response to a stressor
GAS strengths and limtations
Strengths
- Predictable pattern
- establishes relationship between chronic illness and stress
Limitations
- Only focuses on biological aspect of stress
- Different people respond to stress differently
- Research based on rats, not generalisable
Transactional Model of Stress strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Subjective
- Psychological aspect of stress response
- Explains why stress response is different in everyone
Limitations
- Primary and secondary appraisal can happen at same time
- Some people may not know why they feel stress
- Doesn’t include biological aspect
Dopamine function
- Voluntary movement
- Reward based learning
- Motivation
Can have both excitatory and inhibitory effects
Serotonin function
Involved in pain, sleep, appetite and mood regulation
Both excitatory and inhibitory
GABA function
Reducing anxiety, regulates postsynaptic activation
Glutamate function
- Learning and memory
- Strengthens synaptic connections that are repeatedly activated during learning
Approach strategies
Coping strategies that confront the stressor, e.g. finding solutions
Avoidance strategies
Coping strategies that evade the stressor to protect us from stress
Context-specific effectiveness
coping strategy used is a good fit to the stressor
Coping flexibility
ability to modify one’s coping strategies according to the demands of a stressor
Sprouting
Growth of axon or dendritic fibres
Synaptogenesis
formation of new synapses as a result of sprouting
Acute stress
occurs due to a sudden threat and lasts for a short time
Chronic stress
Stress over a prolonged period due to ongoing demands or worries
Role of cortisol in chronic stress (what the person experiences)
- Increasing energy supplies e.g. blood sugar and metabolism
- Suppresses functions that aren’t useful e.g. digestion
Effects of prolonged exposure to cortisol in chronic stress
- Immune suppression, increasing susceptibility to contract diseases
- High blood sugar and high blood pressure
- Weight gain
Shock (GAS) symptoms
Bodily arousal and ability to deal with stressor is reduced to below normal
Counter shock (GAS) symptoms
Sympathetic nervous system is activated
- Heart rate increases
- stress hormones are released
- Resistance to stressor increases above normal
Resistance (GAS) symptoms
- increased hormone levels
- Increased bodily arousal
- bodily resources are used at an increased rate
