Fight or Flight

• What happens when someone enters a potentially stressful situation

  The amygdala is activated
• What will the amygdala do when activated

  It responds to sensory input and connects sensory input with emotions associated with the fight or flight response
• What happens if the situation is deemed dangerous

  The amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which communicates with the body through the sympathetic nervous system
• What does the hypothalamus do in a stressful situation

  It activates the SAM pathway which is the pathway running to the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic nervous system
• What will the SNS do once the hypothalamus activates the SAM pathway

  It stimulates the adrenal medulla, part of the adrenal gland
• What will the adrenal medulla do

  It secretes the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the bloodstream
• What will adrenaline do

  It causes a number of physiological changes to prepare the body for fight or flight
• What are the physiological changes

  Increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, pupil dilation, sweat production, reduction of non-essential functions
• What happens after the fight or flight situation

  the parasympathetic nervous system is activated to return the body back to its resting state