Stress, General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), and Cardiovascular Effects - Flashcards

A set of Question-and-Answer flashcards covering the stages of GAS, components of the nervous and endocrine stress response, appraisal theory, sex differences, and cardiovascular consequences of chronic stress.

What are the three stages of Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Alarm, Resistance (Adaptation), and Exhaustion.

What happens in the alarm stage of GAS?

Rapid activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) with release of stress hormones.

What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?

Sympathetic and parasympathetic.

What are the primary neurotransmitters released during sympathetic arousal?

Epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and dopamine.

What hormone is released from the adrenal glands as a key stress hormone?

Cortisol (a glucocorticoid).

What is the timing of peak cortisol levels after a stressor?

Around 20 to 40 minutes after release.

What is the role of cortisol in the immune system during stress?

Initially immune-enhancing; with prolonged stress, immune-suppressing.

What hormone breaks down stored glucose to provide immediate energy?

Glucagon.

Which hormone suppresses reproduction during stress?

Prolactin.

Which hormone suppresses urination during stress and is also known as vasopressin?

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin).

Which brain structure is central to fear and anxiety and is activated during stress?

The amygdala.

What is the prefrontal cortex, and how is it affected by stress?

A region important for executive function; stress-related neurotransmitters can dampen its activity, impairing clear thinking.

What are the two components of the stress response related to signaling to organs?

Neural (neurotransmitter signaling) and neurohormonal (hormone release from glands like the adrenal).

What happens to the heart and blood vessels during sympathetic activation to support fight-or-flight?

Heart rate increases; some vessels constrict while others dilate; blood is redirected to heart and muscles; blood pressure rises.

What is left ventricular hypertrophy, and why does it occur with chronic stress?

Enlargement of the left ventricle due to sustained high blood pressure; a marker/predictor of cardiovascular disease.

What is hypertension?

Chronic high blood pressure.

What is vascular resistance and how does it relate to chronic stress?

The resistance to blood flow in vessels; chronic stress can increase vascular muscle and resistance, raising blood pressure further.

What is the Tend-and-Befriend theory and who proposed it?

A theory that females tend to seek social support under stress; oxytocin modulates the response; proposed by researchers studying sex differences (Taylor and colleagues).

What is appraisal in stress psychology, and what are the two types?

Cognitive evaluation of a stressor as a challenge or a threat; challenge implies believed coping ability; threat implies potential harm.

How do chronic stressors differ and what is the zebra metaphor?

Humans face many recurring stressors (daily). In zebras, stressors are acute. Chronic stress is more harmful.

Why did early stress research often use only male animals?

To avoid hormonal variability from females; believed to make experiments more controlled; historically less external validity with females.

What is the relationship between cortisol and infection/inflammation across time during stress?

Cortisol can be immune-enhancing early on, then immune-suppressing as stress persists, to avoid chronic inflammation.

Which system counters the sympathetic 'fight/flight' with energy conservation, and are they mutually exclusive?

Parasympathetic system; it is always active at some level and balances the sympathetic, not mutually exclusive.

What term describes the tendency for females to form social bonds in response to stress?

Tend-and-befriend (social bonding) response, often linked to oxytocin.

What effect does chronic stress have on the immune system and disease risk?

Increases susceptibility to infections; increases risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related conditions.