fight or flight response - how the body responds to stress
hypothalamus activates the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system
causes the body to be in a state of arousal - heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure increase
sympathetic division also stimulates the adrenal medulla (inner core of adrenal glands)
this releases adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream, which also increases heart rate, blood pressure etc.
this pathway involving sympathetic division of ANS and the sympathomedullary pathway (SMP) (adrenal medulla) + arousal it leads to = FoF response
fight or flight evaluation
:( evolutionary aspect - (evolved from when we were hunter/ gatherers) fight or flight may not be as useful for understanding modern day stressors like exams
:( gender bias - the research is based on males. females can show a 'tend and befriend' response - release of oxytocin in females in response to stress
