Fight or Flight

Cards (9)

  • 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