fight or flight

• sequence of activity within the body that is triggered when the body prepares itself for attacking (fight) or running away (flight)
• 1 threat

  2 amygdala mobilises; associating sensory signals with emotions associated with fight or flight

  3 sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus that then communicates with the rest of the body via nervous system
• acute : adrenaline - heart rate increases = blood to muscles, heart and vital organs, blood pressure increases, increases release of fats and blood sugar providing energy
• chronic: HPA axis

  H = hypothalamus - releases chemical messenger corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) in response to continued threat

  P = pituitary gland - CRH causes gland to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) - transported in bloodstream to adrenal glands

  A = adrenal gland cortex stimulates by ACTH to release several stress relieving hormones (e.g. cortisol). if cortisol rises above threshold, hypothalamus and pituitary gland reduce CRH and ACTH levels