Biopsychology

• What is acute stress?

  a form of stress in response to immediate pressures; short term. It can be good for you as it helps you stay alert and give you focus
• What is Chronic stress

  A long term form of stress in response to prolonged, emotional pressure. Often occurs in situations the individual feels they cannot control
• The cerebral cortex is more developed in humans, making us function higher than other animals
• Peripheral nervous system


  Transmits messages via neurons to and from the CNS
• The peripheral nervous system consists of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
• The autonomic nervous system is responsible for vital functions such as heart rate, breathing and digestion
• The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland
• The hypothalamus receives a signal from the CNS and sends a signal to the pituitary gland by releasing hormones. The signal causes the pituitary gland to secrete a stimulating hormone (ACTH) into the bloodstream which can then stimulate the target gland to secrete its hormones
• The somatic nervous system transmits messages from the CNS to direct movement of muscles
• endocrine system controls vital functions in the body by releasing hormones from glands into the bloodstream
• thyroxine is a hormone which increases heart rate and metabolic rate which affects growth rate
• pineal gland releases melatonin which makes you more sleepy
• How are signals sent from the CNS to endocrine system?

  CNS sends signal to hypothalamus, signal is sent to pituitary gland which releases ACTH
• ACTH hormone stimulates target glands to release their hormones
• Fight or flight response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system
• the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for fight or flight by triggering the release of adrenaline
• parasympathetic nervous system relaxes the body and returns it to normal resting state
• describe the process of fight or flight

  stressor is received, hypothalamus triggers the sympathetic nervous system which stimulates the adrenal gland to release adrenaline, resulting in physical arousal needed for fight or flight. Parasympathetic nervous system returns the body back to resting state