Fight or Flight

• How does Fight or flight work

  When an individual is faced with a threat, an area of the brain called the amygdala is mobilized. The amygdala associates sensory signals (what we see, hear or smell) with emotions associated with fight or flight, such as fear or anger. The amygdala then sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which functions like a command centre in the brain, communicating with the rest of the body through the sympathetic nervous system.
• During fight or flight mode our:

  • Breathing rate increases to increase oxygen intake for increased respiration
  • Pupils dilate to improve respiration
  • Liver increases glucose conversion needed for respiration
• Steps of fight or flight

  1. A stressor is identified and the amygdala sends the signal to the hypothalamus which activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
  2. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released by the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream
  3. the fight or flight response is produced, preparing the body for sudden physical action, this produces physiological reactions such as increased heart rate, blood rate and respiration
• How does adrenaline affect our body?

  • The heart beats faster, pushing blood to the muscles, heart, lungs and brain which prepares the body for physical action and rapid response planning
  • Constricts blood vessels which raises blood pressure as it increases the rate of blood flow
  • Breathing becomes more rapid to take as much as oxygen possible for respiration
• To remember the response process we use the acronym AH SAM A Fierce Fluffy

  A Amygdala

  H Hypothalamus

  S Sympathetic

  A Adrenal Gland

  M Medulla

  A Adrenaline

  F Fight

  F Flight
• When the threat has passed the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system dampens down the stress response. It lowers our heart rate, pupil size and the process of digestion is resumed
• During fight or flight, responses shut down our immune system, digestive system and causes high blood pressure and results in anxiety. This can result in increased risk of heart disease, obesity and IBS
• Contradictory evidence for Fight or Flight

  P - A weakness in FOF is that there is gender bias

  E - FOF response assumes it is a universal response for threatening situations. (Beta Bias)

  E - Evidence shows females focus energy on caring for their offspring's and forming defensive networks with other females. Known as Tend or Befriend

  L - Meaning FOF responses underestimates the difference between the sexes
• Other Opion of Fight or Flight

  P - There is an alternative explanation for the FOF theory

  E - Another explanation known as the freeze stage (occurs before FOF)

  E - Allows animals and humans to be alert and check the situation, this is an adaptive response to stress to help look for new information

  L - Having another explanation for FOF response means that the flight or sight response in not a full explanation