Stress and the Stress Response

Flashcards about stress and the stress response, covering definitions, stressors, physiological responses, and psychological aspects.

What product does Senestech sell to humanely reduce rodent populations?

ContraPest, a birth control for wild male and female rats.

What is the main focus of the 'Hide and Seek' study with rats?

To study mammalian play and its neural bases in a novel behavioral paradigm.

Name one brain area that is involved in Male Aggression or Male Sex Behavior

Ext.MeA, LS, Mid, POA, VMH, AH.

List three categories that stressful feelings can fall into.

The body, the mind and/or emotions, and bahavior.

Give an example of a potential pathological consequence of chronic stress on the gastrointestinal system.

Gastritis or ulcers.

Name one question one should ask when studying Unit questions regarding stress.

What is the role of hormones in the stress-response? What controls the release of these hormones? What effects do these hormones have on target tissues? Why are we developed in such a way that we would benefit from these hormonal effects? How do these hormones have maladaptive effects?

List a source of stress related to life changes.

Moving house, divorce, illness, death of a loved one, catastrophes.

Define 'stressor'.

A stimuli or circumstance that triggers a stress response.

Why is the definition of stress ('Stress is a situation in which a stressor produces a stress response') considered circular?

Because we only know what the stress response is by observing the response to stressors and vice versa.

According to John W. Mason, what is a remarkable fact about the term 'stress'?

Its persistent, widespread usage in biology and medicine despite almost chaotic disagreement over its definition.

Who coined the term 'homeostasis'?

Walter Cannon.

What is Homeostasis

Physiology acts to maintain balance/constancy in internal milieu

According to many researchers, stress can be conceived of as:

Anything that is a threat to homeostasis.

Give an example of a physical stressor

Temperature extremes, starvation, dehydration, hemorrhage, injury, etc.

Give an example of a physiological stressor

Public speaking, relationships, exams, etc.

What are the two main physiological stress response systems?

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis.

Activation of the SNS produces effects in the body that are:

Rapid and short-lasting.

Activation of the HPA axis produces effects in the body that are:

Slow and long-lasting.

What hormone is associated with the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)?

Adrenaline (epinephrine) & nor-epinephrine (NE).

What hormone is associated with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis?

Cortisol.

What is the purpose of the emotional side of stress?

The emotional aspect serves to motivate coping behavior to avoid and/or escape the stressor.

Why is the general stress response adaptive?

For dealing with a wide range of physical stressors.

Why are 'psychological' stressors as effective as 'physical' stressors at triggering a stress response?

Psychological stressors are potentially cues associated with impending physical stress.

What are the benefits of early triggering of stress response?

Early triggering of the emotional aspect of our psychological stress response can motivate coping behavior to avoid the physical stressor. Early triggering of our physiological stress response may help prepare the body to combat/avoid a physical stressor.