The Fight or Flight Response

• The fight or flight response is produced by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
• Fight or Flight Response:

  > stressor identified by the hypothalamus and activates the pituitary gland, which triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS

  > adrenaline is released into the bloodstream by adrenal medulla

  > fight or flight response is produced, which produces immediate and automatic physiological reactions such as increased heart rate and respiration, and decreased saliva production and digestion

  > parasympathetic branch returns body back to normal, once stressor is removed - homeostasis
• Fight or Flight Response AO3:

  :( Does not explain stress response in females - tend or befriend

  :( Human behaviour is not limited to two responses - freeze