Autonomic Nervous System : Fight or Flight

• What is stress defined as in the study material?

  Stress is a biological and psychological response to a perceived threat.
• What is a stressor?

  A stressor is a stimulus that causes stress.
• Can you give examples of stressors?

  Examples of stressors include exams, divorce, death of a loved one, moving house, and loss of a job.
• Which systems are involved in the fight or flight response?

  Both the CNS and ANS are involved in the fight or flight response.
• What is the overview of the fight or flight response?

  1. The amygdala judges if a situation is stressful.
  2. If stressful, the hypothalamus is activated.
  3. The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland and adrenal medulla.
  4. Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla.
  5. Adrenaline arouses the sympathetic nervous system and reduces parasympathetic activity.
  6. Adrenaline increases heart rate, blood pressure, redistributes blood to muscles, decreases digestive activity, and dilates pupils.
  7. Once the threat is over, the parasympathetic nervous system restores balance.
• What role does the amygdala play in stress response?

  The amygdala judges a situation and decides if it is stressful.
• What happens when the hypothalamus is activated?

  The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland and adrenal medulla.
• What is released from the adrenal medulla during stress?

  Adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla.
• What are the effects of adrenaline on the body?

  Adrenaline increases heart rate, blood pressure, redistributes blood to muscles, decreases digestive activity, and dilates pupils.
• What happens after the threat is over in terms of the nervous system?

  The parasympathetic nervous system takes over to return the body to a balanced state.
• How does the CNS contribute to the stress response?

  • The amygdala judges stress based on:
  • Sensory input from sensory neurons via the spinal cord
  • Stored memories of past situations
  • Mental representations (schema)
  • Input from the temporal lobes (auditory cortex) and occipital lobe (visual cortex)
• What is the role of the ANS in maintaining homeostasis?

  The ANS acts as a control system maintaining homeostasis without conscious control.
• What does the Fight or Flight Response act via?

  The Fight or Flight Response acts via the Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM).
• What are the key actions of adrenaline during stress?

  • Increases heart rate
  • Increases blood pressure
  • Expands air passages of the lungs
  • Dilates pupils
  • Redistributes blood to muscles
  • Alters metabolism to maximize blood glucose levels
  • Decreases digestive activity
  • Liver releases glucose for energy
• Where is adrenaline produced?

  Adrenaline is produced in the medulla of the adrenal glands and some neurons of the CNS.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of measuring stress hormones in lab studies?

  Strengths:

  • Yields objective, empirical data
  • Consistency across multiple studies supports the theory

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Variation in hormone levels and types among individuals
  • Not a simple physiological process
  • Individuals without adrenal glands need supplements
• What does the 'freeze' response suggest about human behavior in danger?

  The 'freeze' response suggests humans may avoid danger altogether before deciding on a course of action.
• How does Gray's (1988) theory expand on the fight or flight response?

  Gray suggests that the first response to danger is to freeze and assess the situation.
• What is the beta bias in the context of the fight or flight theory?

  The beta bias refers to the assumption that females respond to stress in the same way as males.
• What alternative response do females exhibit according to Taylor et al. (2002)?

  Females exhibit a 'tend and befriend' response in stressful situations.
• How does the fight or flight explanation limit its application to females?

  The original fight or flight explanation may not fully apply to females due to differing stress responses.