Chapter_11_Book

Fearlessness

The state of not feeling fear, which can result from certain medical conditions like S.M.'s genetic disorder.

Sympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that acts as the fight-or-flight system, activating the body for action.

Parasympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to relax and recuperate.

James-Lange theory

The theory suggesting that emotions are caused by physiological changes in the body.

Cannon-Bard theory

The theory proposing that emotions and bodily responses occur simultaneously as a result of brain activity.

Schachter-Singer theory

The two-factor theory of emotion proposing that physiological arousal is followed by cognitive appraisal to label the emotion.

Fear conditioning

A form of classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus is paired with an unpleasant stimulus to elicit a fear response.

Amygdala

A group of nuclei located in the temporal lobe, crucial for emotional learning and the processing of fear.

Stress

Any circumstance that upsets homeostatic balance, leading to physiological and psychological responses.

Cortisol

A glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal cortex during stress, it helps control metabolism and immune response.

Epigenetic regulation

Changes in gene expression due to environmental factors, not changes in the nucleotide sequence.

Psychosomatic medicine

A field of study that focuses on the interplay between psychological factors and physical health.

Health psychology

A field that examines how psychological factors influence health and illness.

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of the interactions between the immune system and the nervous system, especially related to stress.

Klüver-Bucy syndrome

A condition resulting from damage to the amygdala, characterized by a dramatic reduction in fear and aggression.

Testosterone

A steroid hormone that influences the development of male physical characteristics and has been linked to aggression.

Aggression

Behavior intended to cause harm or pain to others, can be physical or psychological.

Aggressive behavior

Behavior that is intended to cause pain or harm to others.

Chronic stress

Long-lasting stress that can have detrimental effects on health and well-being.

Acute stress response

The immediate physiological reactions to a perceived threat that prepare the body for action.