autonomic nervous system (fight or flight)

• what is the autonomic nervous system?

  • part of the peripheral nervous system
  • responsive for vital functions such as heart beat, breathing, digestion
  • transmits information from and to internal body organs
  • operates involuntary
• what is the sympathetic nervous system?

  • part of the peripheral nervous system
  • stimulates functions like digestion
  • involved in the fight or flight response
• what is the parasympathetic nervous system?

  • part of the peripheral nervous system
  • slows functions like digestion
  • involved in fight or flight response
• what are the 2 main divisions of the ANS?

  • sympathetic nervous system
  • parasympathetic nervous system
  • their actions are mostly ANTAGONISTIC (work in opposition to eachother)
• actions of the sympathetic nervous system

  CASUES FIGHT OR FLIGHT

  • GUT: slows digestion
  • HEART: increases heart rate
  • EYE: dilates pupils
  • BLADDER: relaxes, increased urination
  • MOUTH: increases saliva production
• actions of the parasympathetic nervous system

  RESPONSE TO FIGHT OR FLIGHT

  • GUT: increases digestion
  • HEART: slows heart rate
  • EYE: constricts dilation
  • BLADDER: contracts, decrees urination
  • MOUTH:slows saliva production
• fight or flight response

  • controlled by sympathetic nervous system
  • mechanism to protect the body from stress and danger
• after flight or flight

  • controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system ti return everything back to normal
  • slow acting
• what's the difference between the ANS and SNS?

  • ANS is involuntary but SNS controls voluntary actions
  • ANS is divided into 2 parts but SNS only has 1 part
  • ANS controls smooth muscles and glands but SNS controls skeletal muscles
• outline the role of the CNS in behaviour

  CNS

  • spinal cord transmits sensory info to the brain (hearing footsteps)
  • brain directs instructions (deciding to run) to spinal cord to move
  • brain has higher mental functions; decision making (realising)
• outline the role of the ANS in behaviour

  • sympathetic - triggers fight or flight (running)
  • SNS acts involuntary to increase heart rate
• role of amygdala in fight or flight response

  • mobilsed when a person is threatened
  • forms association between sensory info and fear/anger
• what are chronic stressors?

  • ongoing stressors e.g. when brain perceives a continuing threat
  • returns neccessary hormone levels to normal
• fight or flight limitation

  • males and females may display different patterns
  • femlaes protect themselves more due to being more nurturing and forming alliences with other women
• outline the fight or flight response

  1. the hypothalamus prepares the body for action when threatened
  2. adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla to increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and slows digestion
  3. changes between para/sympathetic NS
• outline the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response

  • the activation of the symoathetic NS stimulates the release of adrenaline to make physiological changes to prepare the body for fight or flight when threatened
  • it travels into the blood stream to other organs and increases heart rate and slows digestion