Week 1: Early Adversity & Stress Flashcards
Define adversity:
A: A state of well-being and prosperity without any challenges or difficulties.
B: A violation of the expectable environment, including malnutrition, chronic illness, maltreatment, violence, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or economic hardship.
C: An event or situation that brings only positive experiences and opportunities.
B: A violation of the expectable environment, including malnutrition, chronic illness, maltreatment, violence, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or economic hardship.
Adversity is an external factor that causes stress!
Define stress:
A: A condition characterized by complete emotional and physical tranquility, unaffected by external factors.
B: The physiological changes in the body in reaction to external factors that are perceived as threatening harm, loss, or misfortune.
C: The absence of any response or reaction to external factors, resulting in a lack of physiological changes in the body.
B: The physiological changes in the body in reaction to external factors that are perceived as threatening harm, loss, or misfortune.
Stress is an adaptive response to a threat designed to keep us alive
It’s a subjective experience - If it feels like danger to you you will feel the effects of that in your body
What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
A: Central nervous system & peripheral nervous system.
B: Sensory nervous system & motor nervous system.
C: Sympathetic nervous system & parasympathetic nervous system
C: Sympathetic nervous system & parasympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system is also known as the “fight or flight” system.
The parasympathetic nervous system is also known as the “rest and digest” system
How does the autonomic nervous system work:
A: When your eyes perceive a snake, the thalamus quickly identifies it, and the optic nerve relays the message to the visual cortex. This activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering a stress response. The thalamus signals the amygdala, responsible for stress reactions, leading to physiological changes geared towards heightened alertness and survival. However, the effects have a short half-life (20-60 minutes), as prolonged activation depletes resources.
B: The autonomic nervous system is primarily driven by conscious thoughts and decisions, disregarding automatic responses to perceived threats. It operates exclusively under voluntary control, unaffected by subconscious processes that may trigger stress reactions.
C: Upon activation of the sympathetic nervous system, an enduring state of relaxation and calmness ensues, fostering an extended sense of well-being. This implies a sustained absence of stress responses, contrary to the dynamic and adaptive nature of the autonomic nervous system in reacting to external stimuli.
A: When your eyes perceive a snake, the thalamus quickly identifies it, and the optic nerve relays the message to the visual cortex. This activates the sympathetic nervous system, triggering a stress response. The thalamus signals the amygdala, responsible for stress reactions, leading to physiological changes geared towards heightened alertness and survival. However, the effects have a short half-life (20-60 minutes), as prolonged activation depletes resources.
How does the sympathetic nervous system work?
A: The sympathetic nervous system is perceived as a facilitator of tranquility and calmness, orchestrating a response characterized by a slow heart rate and constricted pupils. This view contradicts its actual role in stress response.
B: The sympathetic nervous system activates during periods of rest, causing a reduction in heart rate and conserving energy.
C: The sympathetic nervous system activates the “fight or flight” response when stress is encountered. It does this by releasing epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These hormones cause physiological changes in the body like increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and release of glucose to provide energy for fighting or fleeing. The sympathetic nervous system response is short-acting, with a half-life of around 20 minutes to an hour. It provides an initial burst of energy and arousal to help the body respond quickly to threats.
C: The sympathetic nervous system activates the “fight or flight” response when stress is encountered. It does this by releasing epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These hormones cause physiological changes in the body like increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and release of glucose to provide energy for fighting or fleeing. The sympathetic nervous system response is short-acting, with a half-life of around 20 minutes to an hour. It provides an initial burst of energy and arousal to help the body respond quickly to threats.
What happens when the adrenaline wears off (when the sympathetic nervous system reaches its half-life)?
A: It is believed that when adrenaline wears off, the body undergoes an immediate transition into a state of complete rest and relaxation. In this view, there is no recognition of any further physiological responses or the involvement of other hormonal activities.
B: Your body activates the HPA axis (cortisol). This is known as the system that holds down the gas pedal and keeps you in this state. This is no longer the fight or flight response, this goes beyond that. The hypothalamus releases CRH (Corticotrophin-releasing hormone) which signals the anterior pituitary gland. In response, the anterior pituitary gland releases ACTH (Adreno-corticotropic hormone) which signals the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland, the endocrine glands on top of your kidneys, produce and release cortisol
Cortisol is the final output of the HPA axis and works to sustain the stress response and elevate functions like blood pressure and sugar levels.
C: There’s a misconception that the cessation of adrenaline marks the abrupt conclusion of stress-related responses, without any subsequent activation of other systems or release of hormones. This interpretation neglects the intricate processes involved in sustaining the stress response beyond the initial adrenaline release.
B: Your body activates the HPA axis (cortisol). This is known as the system that holds down the gas pedal and keeps you in this state. This is no longer the fight or flight response, this goes beyond that. The hypothalamus releases CRH (Corticotrophin-releasing hormone) which signals the anterior pituitary gland. In response, the anterior pituitary gland releases ACTH (Adreno-corticotropic hormone) which signals the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland, the endocrine glands on top of your kidneys, produce and release cortisol
Cortisol is the final output of the HPA axis and works to sustain the stress response and elevate functions like blood pressure and sugar levels.
How does the negative feedback loop (a feature of the HPA axis) work?
A: This is a feature of the HPA Axis and happens after the final output of the HPA Axis. A negative feedback loop then kicks in, where cortisol signals back to the hypothalamus and pituitary to shut off further release of CRH and ACTH, turning off the stress response. The negative feedback loop in the HPA axis works like a gas pump shutting off automatically. Once cortisol is released in response to activation of the HPA axis, it signals back to the hypothalamus to stop releasing CRH and ACTH. This causes the hypothalamus to signal to the pituitary and adrenal glands to stop releasing their hormones as well. Just like a gas pump shuts off when the tank is full, this negative feedback loop allows the HPA axis to regulate cortisol levels and turn the stress response on and off as needed to maintain homeostasis.
B: The negative feedback loop within the HPA axis is believed to continuously amplify the stress response, with cortisol signaling to the hypothalamus and pituitary to release more CRH and ACTH, perpetuating a never-ending cycle.
C: It is thought to function as a one-time switch, turning off the stress response permanently after the initial release of cortisol. This perspective overlooks the dynamic regulation required to maintain cortisol levels and respond to changing stressors.
A: This is a feature of the HPA Axis and happens after the final output of the HPA Axis. A negative feedback loop then kicks in, where cortisol signals back to the hypothalamus and pituitary to shut off further release of CRH and ACTH, turning off the stress response. The negative feedback loop in the HPA axis works like a gas pump shutting off automatically. Once cortisol is released in response to activation of the HPA axis, it signals back to the hypothalamus to stop releasing CRH and ACTH. This causes the hypothalamus to signal to the pituitary and adrenal glands to stop releasing their hormones as well. Just like a gas pump shuts off when the tank is full, this negative feedback loop allows the HPA axis to regulate cortisol levels and turn the stress response on and off as needed to maintain homeostasis.
What happens when the negative feedback loop is habituated?
A: When the negative feedback loop in the HPA axis becomes habituated or dysregulated due to chronic stress, it loses its ability to properly regulate the stress response. This means the HPA axis doesn’t know when to turn the stress response “on” and “off” anymore.
It can become either overactive or underactive and the stress response becomes maladaptive rather than helping the body cope with stressors in a balanced way.
This dysregulation of the HPA axis and cortisol levels leads to downstream health effects.
B: Habituation of the negative feedback loop is thought to enhance its ability to finely tune the stress response, leading to a more precise and adaptive regulation of cortisol levels.
C: When the negative feedback loop is habituated, the HPA axis gains better control over the stress response, ensuring a more balanced and efficient coping mechanism for the body.
A: When the negative feedback loop in the HPA axis becomes habituated or dysregulated due to chronic stress, it loses its ability to properly regulate the stress response. This means the HPA axis doesn’t know when to turn the stress response “on” and “off” anymore.
It can become either overactive or underactive and the stress response becomes maladaptive rather than helping the body cope with stressors in a balanced way.
This dysregulation of the HPA axis and cortisol levels leads to downstream health effects.
How does the parasympathetic nervous system work?
A: The parasympathetic nervous system is perceived as consistently promoting a state of heightened arousal and alertness, never engaging in restorative functions like slowing the heart rate or stimulating digestion.
B: The parasympathetic nervous system works to restore homeostasis and balance after a stress response. It is responsible for the “rest and digest” functions through actions like slowing the heart rate and stimulating digestion. However, when the stress response is chronic or the negative feedback loop is disrupted, the parasympathetic nervous system never gets a chance to restore balance. It would be like the parasympathetic system never had a “fighting chance” to counteract the overactive sympathetic nervous system response due to chronic stress.
C: The parasympathetic nervous system operates independently of the stress response, having no role in restoring balance or countering the effects of chronic stress on the sympathetic nervous system.
B: The parasympathetic nervous system works to restore homeostasis and balance after a stress response. It is responsible for the “rest and digest” functions through actions like slowing the heart rate and stimulating digestion. However, when the stress response is chronic or the negative feedback loop is disrupted, the parasympathetic nervous system never gets a chance to restore balance. It would be like the parasympathetic system never had a “fighting chance” to counteract the overactive sympathetic nervous system response due to chronic stress.
What is the chemical process of the Hypothalamic
Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA)?
A: Serotonin, Melatonin, Epinephrine
B: Dopamine, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Insulin
C: Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), Adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), Cortisol
C: Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), Adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), Cortisol
You may want to see the image for this slide on page 13 for a better visual of this.
- Do we need to know this for the exams?
What does cortisol suppress?
A: Reproductive drive, immunity, digestion, growth
B: Cortisol has no impact on suppressing anything
C: Adrenaline & epinephrine
A: Reproductive drive, immunity, digestion, growth
What happens if stress is chronic (toxic)?
A: Chronic stress has no significant impact on cognitive performance, thyroid function, blood sugar levels, bone density, fatigue, muscle mass, blood pressure, or immune function.
B: It results in a habituated negative feedback loop that can lead to impaired cognitive performance, dampened thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, dysregulated blood pressure, lowered immune function, slow wound healing, etc.
C: Chronic stress leads to enhanced cognitive performance, improved thyroid function, stable blood sugar levels, increased bone density, heightened energy levels, enhanced muscle mass, regulated blood pressure, and boosted immune function.
B: It results in a habituated negative feedback loop that can lead to impaired cognitive performance, dampened thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, dysregulated blood pressure, lowered immune function, slow wound healing, etc.
The parasympathetic nervous system can no longer function properly
Imagine being so stressed about an exam that you can’t remember an answer to any of the questions
What are the three different levels of stress?
A: Low, moderate, extreme
B: Positive, tolerable, toxic
C: Mild, moderate, severe
B: Positive, tolerable, toxic
Positive = Getting a raise at work, starting a new job, having a baby, getting married
Tolerable = car accident, natural disaster, losing a loved one
Toxic = chronic adversity and trauma, abuse, neglect, poverty, food scarcity
