Neurobiology of Stress - Background

something to cheer you up if you’re stressed today:)

who popularized the use of the term “stress”

Hans Selye

Selye’s stress definition

the rate of all wear and tear caused by life (negative emotions)

connection made by Selye between stress and disease

general adaptation syndrome

phases of general adaptation syndrome

1. alarm reaction

2. adaptation stage (appropriate responses and homeostatic balance)

3. exhaustion stage (prolonged stress → ⬆susceptibility to disease)

stress activates two physiological systems in the body:

1. sympathetic NS

2. hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

sympathetic NS is the ____ that prepares us for emergencies.

fight or flight response

HPA

produces endocrine changes to help us adapt (compliments symp)