Stress: Portrait of a Killer Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the biological, neurological, and sociological aspects of stress based on the lecture featuring Robert Sapolsky and other researchers.

Robert Sapolsky

A Stanford University neurobiologist who has spent over $30$ years studying the impact of stress on the bodies of wild baboons in the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya.

Epinephrine

Also known as adrenaline, this is one of the two main workhorse hormones central to the body's stress response.

Glucocorticoids

A hormone secreted from the adrenal gland along with adrenaline that serves as one of the backbones of the stress response.

Stress Response

The body's physiological reaction to a perceived threat where the heart and lungs work harder and non-essential functions like growth and reproduction are shut down.

Whitehall Study

A landmark study led by Sir Michael Marmot tracking the health of over $28,000$ British civil servants, revealing that lower ranking individuals have higher risks of heart disease and shorter life expectancies.

Peptic Ulcer

A stomach ailment once believed to be caused solely by stress, now understood to be triggered by bacteria when the body's immune system is weakened by stress.

Atherosclerosis

The buildup of plaque in the arteries which restrict blood flow; research on macaques showed this is significantly higher in subordinate primates due to stress.

Hippocampus

The region of the brain responsible for learning and memory where chronic stress can cause the shrinkage of brain cells.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter released in the brain to signal pleasure; research shows that subordinate monkeys have less receptor-binding for this chemical, making life less pleasurable.

Dutch Hunger Winter

A period in late $1944$ in Holland when famine and stress affected pregnant women, leading to babies who grew up with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and poorer health.

Telomeres

Genetic structures that cap the ends of chromosomes; chronic stress is linked to the accelerated shortening of these caps, which is a marker of premature aging.

Telomerase

An enzyme discovered by Elizabeth Blackburn that can repair the damage to telomeres, potentially stimulated by social support and compassion.

Keekorok Troop

A specific baboon troop that transitioned into a society of low aggression and high social affiliation after the death of its most aggressive males due to tainted meat.

Social Affiliation

A powerful stress reducer involving connecting with and helping others, which can translate to better health and longevity even in hierarchical societies.