The Body's Response to Stress - Biological Psychology AS (3)

This system uses electricity (i.e. communication along nerve fibres) and is very fast indeed, faster than the chemical-based pituitary-adrenal system.

•Hypothalamus activates sympathetic branch of the ANS.

•The sympathetic branch sends a signal to the adrenal medulla.

•In response, the adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline.

•These contribute to the stress response e.g. increasing blood pressure and heart rate.