the fight or flight response

• what is the fight or flight response?

  it is a survival mechanism that was evolved to keep us safe from threats. so in a stressful situation the fight or flight feeling will be activated.
• what is the role of adrenaline in fight or flight?

  to prepare the body to run faster or be as strong as possible. it does this by increasing the heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increasing rate of blood flow and raising blood pressure
• what has the sympathetic nervous got to do with fight or flight?

  this is the activation for fight or flight. it is designed to deal immediately with short-lived stress. it does this by channelling resources where we need it and diverting resources from where we don't need it
• how is the sympathetic branch of the ANS activated?

  the amygdala (which associates what we hear/see/feel with emotions) sends distress signals to the hypothalamus, which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system.
• what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

  it returns the body to its resting state, by reducing the activities of the body that was increased by the actions of the sympathetic branch. also known as the rest and digest branch.
• where did the fight or flight response come from?

  it is likely to have evolved as a response to threats posed for our early ancestors (e.g. wild animals), however it is inappropriate now as it can cause panic and stress simply because of exams.