Endocrine + Fight or Flight

• Endocrine system (ES) is a network of glands throughout the body that make + secrete hormones. Behaviour is thought to be influenced by hormones where each one affects behaviour in a different way. NS + ES work together to regulate the body. Specialist glands regulate a number of bodily functions.
• Pineal Gland - melatonin (sleep)

  Pituitary Gland - controls other glands

  Thyroid Gland - thyroxine (metabolism + cell growth)

  Adrenal Gland - adrenaline

  Pancreas - insulin

  Ovary - oestrogen/progesterone

  Testes - testosterone
• Pituitary gland controls the release of hormones from all other endocrine glands so regulates many of the body's functions. Pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus.
• Fight or Flight response

  ES + ANS work together when a person experiences a stressful situation. A stressor is detected and the ANS changes from the parasympathetic state to the physiologically aroused, sympathetic state.

  1. Hypothalamus detects stress + sends message to pituitary gland
  2. It then gets sent from pituitary -> adrenal which releases adrenaline

  This release causes physiological changes e.g heart rate increased, pupils dilate, reduced salivation.
• Actions of Sympathetic Nervous system: increased heart rate, pupils dilate, reduced salvation

  Actions of Parasympathetic Nervous system: heart rate returns to normal, pupils contract, salvation increases

  Fight or flight is a reflex response to help manage physically when under threat/stress. They make someone react quicker to fight the threat or run away from it -> once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to its resting state, it acts as a 'brake' and reduces the activities of the body that were increased - referred to as rest and digest response