PSYC 365: EXAM 1

Top 3 stressors listed (Stress in American Survey)

starting/growing new career, completing education, Maintaining or improving health

American resilience

75% believe its possible to achieve goals, find meaning in relationships, stay optimistic, 85% believe they can create good life, 77% control over future

What is stress

measurable, universal

Stressor

stimulus to trigger fight or flight

Reactivity

physiological response (blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate, body temp)

Strain

physical or psychological consequences

bracing

unnecessary muscular contraction (deep muscle relaxation and progressive relaxation can be effective to help!)

trauma (intense form of stress)

tremendous physical or psychological strain, refer to single or multiple events (physical, social, emotional, spiritual)

resilience

weather adversity, but not immune to stress, there is change but not to the point where they suffer socially or mentally from event

Walter Cannon - Wisdom of the Body

- Studied homeostasis & coined fight or flight

- How animals react to stress show physiological response (fighting or fleeing)

- Activation of the sympathetic nervous system

Hans Seyle's

studied response of organisms to threats (homeostasis, rodents)

Hans Seyle's General Adaptation Syndrome (how we describe stress today)

1) alarm, 2) resistance, 3) exhaustion

alarm (GAS)

body changes

resistance (GAS)

body fends off threat

exhaustion (GAS)

body lose ability to maintain heightened physiological arousal

types of stressors

environmental, psychological, interpersonal, philosophical

stress reactivity (fight or flight)

increased muscle tension, effects based on duration and degree of one's physiological reaction

strain is a reaction of perpetual _____________

perpetual stress reactivity

Eustress

positive stress

distress

negative stress

ATW Simons

studied evolution related to psychosomatic disease

misconceptions about stress

1) my experiences are the same as yours, 2) stress is something that happens, 3) only big things effect us, 4) we always know when we are stressed, 5) stress is inevitable so might as well live with it, 6) i don't know how to relax and if i do, I won't be productive, 7) stress and anxiety are the same, 8) same management techniques work for everyone, 9) you can live in a stress free world

autogeneic training

reduce stress, anxiety and pain through mental, self-suggestive exercise focusing on physical sensations

neuromuscular relaxation

ability to reduce or eliminate unnecessary tension or contraction in a muscle group

The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine lead to various changes in the body including:

an increase in the basal metabolic rate

The part of the subcortex responsible for regulating sleep is called the:

pons

The inner portion of the adrenal gland that secretes catecholamines is called the:

adrenal medulla

The system that produces emotions, also known as the "seat of emotions," is called the:

limbic system

The upper part of the brain responsible for thinking functions is called the:

cerebral cortex

When we experience a stressor, the pituitary hormones oxytocin and vasopressin cause increased blood pressure by contracting smooth muscles in blood vessel walls, which explains why chronic stress can lead to hypertension (T or F)

true

The upper part of the brain responsible for thinking functions is called the

cerebral cortex.

The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine lead to various changes in the body including

an increase in the basal metabolic rate.

What is secreted by the pituitary gland and in turn activates the adrenal cortex to secrete corticoid hormones?

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

The system that produces emotions, which is also known as the "seat of emotions," is called the

limbic system.

The part of the subcortex responsible for regulating sleep is called the:

pons.

Homeostasis

the optimal functioning of the organism and the maintenance of equilibrium, Origin of fight or flight

Allostasis

the active process of responding to challenges to maintain stability, stability through change. changes with set point, allosatic return to set point, the more stress, the change in set point

Structures and systems involved in the stress response:

The brain

The endocrine system

Autonomic nervous system

Cardiovascular system

Gastrointestinal system

Muscles

Skin

The body provides the brain with a "template of awareness"

The pathway includes the spinal cord, brain stem, limbic system and cerebral cortex

Stressors are perceived and translated by the brain

the brain

Cerebral cortex

Cerebellum

Brain stem

Spinal cord

Gyri: bumps/hills

Sulci: grooves/fissures

Frontal lobe

Largest lobe, planning, decision-making, attention, movement, speech

Temporal lobe

Perception, recognition of visual and auditory info, recognizing objects/people, memory, speech

Parietal lobe

Perception of touch, pain, proprioception (know where you are in space and where your limbs are), maps out your movement of limbs, visual processing, can give sensations for parts of body in the cortex, somatic sensory map

Occipital lobe

Vision, object orientation, color

Cerebellum

"Little brain"

Contains over half of neurons

Involved in motor coordination, language, learning and memory

brainstem

pons and medulla oblongata

Pons

Bridge between the midbrain and medulla

Origin of cranial nerves that control chewing, blinking and facial expression

Regulates breathing, sleep

Medulla oblongata

Regulates heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing

Origin of cranial nerves to the face, muscles and organs

Reticular activating system (RAS)

Excessive arousal of the cortex results in stressful response

All under aroused cortex results in difficulty in learning, poor memory, and little self-control

Receives input from the spinal cord, sensory pathways, thalamus and cortex

Provides the neurological connections that are needed for learning and attention

Limbic system:

The command center: thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Thalamus

almost all sensory info comes through this, almost all sensory info comes through this

Hypothalamus

activator - triggers the automatic nervous system

Amygdala

threat/emotional detector

Hippocampus

signals presence of stress based on memory

Incoming sensory info is transmitted from the thalamus via 2 pathways

low and high road

The low road - unconscious

Incoming sensory stimuli are processed by the thalamus

Signals are directed to the amygdala via the low road bypassing conscious processing, allowing immediate reactions to stimuli

Ex. seeing snake, and jumping back

The high road - conscious

Projections go through sensory cortex after the thalamus

Associated with slower processing, conscious refined interpretation

Stress pathways

Hypothalamus activates 2 stress reactivity pathways, fast and slow response

fast response

automatic nervous system

Controls hormone balance, reproduction, metabolism, heart rate, body temp, gastric functions

(slower response) - endocrine system

Includes all glands that secrete hormones, also regulates physiological functions like heart rate, blood pressure, glucose metabolism

Autonomic response

neurochemical release and diffusion

Endocrine response

glands release hormones, chemicals that travel through the bloodstream to act on target tissues, within the body

neural response

miliseconds/seconds

Autonomic nervous system

Hormonal (slow)

mins/hours

HPA axis and thyroid

Sympathetic nervous system

Expends energy

Fight or flight

Increase heart rate and energy

Parasympathetic nervous system

Conserving energy

Rest and digest

Calm body

Sympathetic activation

Release of epinephrine and norepinephrine is a result of stimulation from the hypothalamus

Endocrine system stress response

Promotes energy use

Increases glucose, lipid metabolism

2 hormonal systems

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis)

Activation adrenal glands leads to the release of:

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Cortisol

Aldostreone

hybrid gland

Adrenal gland

Adrenal cortex secretes glucocorticoids

Primary glucocorticoid is cortisol

Cortisol provides energy for action

Gluconeogenesis

the production of glucose from amino acids by the liver

Promote energy use and availability

Metabolic mobilization

Cortisol

Primary glucocorticoid is cortisol, provides energy for action

mineralocorticoids

Adrenal cortex also secretes mineralocorticoids, Primary mineralocorticoid is aldosterone

Aldosterone alters blood pressure to prepare

Blood pressure is measured a systolic and diastolic

Aldosterone increases systolic

Neural stress response

Fast, autonomic nervous system

Speed: milliseconds/seconds

Hormonal stress response

Slow, HPA axis and thyroid

Negative feedback loop

The system shuts itself off

As cortisol levels rise, CRH and ACTH release is inhibited

Detected by the hypothalamus RAS, pituitary and hippocampus

HPA axis initiation

Target adrenal glands

Adrenal cortex secretions

cortisol and aldosterone

cortisol

gathering energy for a response, mobilizes energy storage from the liver, Cortisol levels fluctuate with our sleep wake cycle, Rise before waking and peak shortly afterward

CAR is disrupted in ppl w mood disorders, high stress and PTSD

aldosterone

influences the kidneys, retain sodium, and increases blood pressure, decreases urine production

Cortisol release is altered in people with PTSD

Patients with PTSD had greater cortisol release in anticipation and less during recovery

Impaired negative feedback (negative feedback = counteract change to maintain stability and return to a set point)

Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

Ppl brought into lab and told to prepare speech in front of a committee

Physiological measures taken before, during, and after the speech

Heart rate and cortisol levels increases

Finger tips: Skin temperature drops more when you're stressed

Stress activates the thyroid gland

Promotes energy use (for escape or defence)

Release of thyroxine leads to

Increase gluconeogenesis

Breathing rate

Heart rate

Increases anxiety

Decreases tiredness

Cardiovascular system

Blue = high pressure, low oxygen

Red = low pressure, high oxygen

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system increases rate and force of contractions

Parasympathetic -> does the opposite

Vasopressin and Oxytocin

Released from pituitary gland

Cause contraction of smooth muscle

Constrict blood vessels

Increase blood pressure

Anti-diuretic hormones reduce urination (compound hormones leading to water retention)

psychosomatic illness

involves both the mind and the body

top leading causes of death

1. heart disease, 2. cancer

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors

Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)

Hypertension (high BP)

Smoking

which careers tend to report the highest levels of stress

General medical practices

Physiological mechanisms that explain the relationship between stress and coronary heart disease:

Type A pattern and behavior

Cholesterol, blood pressure/volume, accelerated heart rate

Cardiovascular reactivity

Blood pressure morning surge

Increased platelet activation

Increased noepinephrine/epi levels

Prolonged neuroendocrine responses

Variability in heart rhythm

Psychosocial stress and ischemia

psychosocial stress had greater predictive value for the onset of heart disease

psychosocial stress induced ischemia is usually ______

asymptomatic

Peripheral vasoconstriction driven by the sympathetic nervous system and norepinephrine can ______

Forces heart to pump against higher pressure

and trigger myocardial ischemia

how is the limbic system linked to cardiovascular disease

Higher activation of prefrontal cortex during mental stress acts as predictor for major cardiovascular disease events in individuals with coronary heart disease

Activation of amygdala has also been implicated

Amygdala and cardiovascular disease

Researchers analyzed 293 patients who were free of CVD

Measure activity of amygdala at rest, number of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure

Resting metabolic activity of the amygdala predicted development of cardiovascular disease

high amygdala activity is associated with______

more cardiac events

Tako tsubo Cardiomyopathy

(Broken Heart Syndrome)

Go through traumatic and emotional event

Ballooning in the left ventricle

Almost like a heart attack

Due to increase in catacolamine (epinephrine and norepinephrine)