Fight or Flight

what 2 different responses are there (stressors)?

-acute (sudden)
-chronic (ongoing)

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how do acute reactions happen?

Amygdala [A] (part of the limbic system) is activated when someone enters a potential stressful situation. A response to sensory input and connects it to emotions associated with it in fi vs fli mode ie anger, fear. if the situation is stressful-

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continuing w previous card

-the A sends a distress signal if the situation seems stressful which communicates with body through hypothalamus which communicated with body through the Sympathetic NS which stimulates adrenal medulla (part of the adrenal gland)-

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continuing w previous card

-Adrenaline causes psychological changes ie heart beats faster, its main purpose is to push blood to muscles, heart and other vital organs so blood pressure increases. it also releases blood sugar (glucose) and fast which flood into blood stream

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-+supply energy to parts of the body. if the situation needs a short term response, the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM pathway) is activated. this triggers the fi or fli response.

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what are chronic reactions and how do they occur?

if brain continues to perceive smthn as threatening, the second system kicked. it is an initial urge of adrenaline. the system is called the HPA axis.

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what does the h stand for/do?

H- the hypothalamus, when a series of hormonal signals to keep the NS working is activated. It releases a chemical messenger corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) into the bloodstream

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what does the p stand for/do?

P- the pituitary gland, on arrival of PG the CRH causes PG to produce and release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). the ACTH is transported into the blood stream to its target size in the adrenal glands

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what does the A stand for/do?

A- the adrenal gland, ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release stress related hormones including cortisol which is responsible for several effects which are either positive or negative. positive ie quick burst of energy or lower pain sensitivity-

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contouring w previous card

-negative ie impaired cognitive performance or lowered immune response

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what are the 4 main physiological changes and why does it change?

-increase heart rate- to increase blood flow to organs and increase movement go adrenaline around body
-increase breathing rate-increase oxygen intake to take as much oxygen in as possible

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-pupil dilation- increase light energy into eye, enhance vision esp in dark
-sweat production- regulate body temperature
-reduction of non essential functions ie digestion, salivation, urination- inc. energy for other essential functions

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what does the parasympethic NS do?

PNS returns the body back to a normal resting state and slows down functions such as heart. the functions that were slowed prior are then started again.

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name the evaluations

-other reactions ie when faced in dangerous situations our reactions is not limited to just fi vs fli, it can be freeze. gray suggests 1st response to danger is to avoid contraction altogether. freeze allows humans and animals to become-

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counting w pervious card

- hyper vigilant during situations, allowing them to decide the best course of action for the threat they face
(next evaluation is on next card)

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-gender bias, fi vs fli typically a male response, to danger, females adopt 'tend and befriend' response. Taylor et al said women are more likely to protect their offspring and form alliances with other women. (+fi vs fli may be counterintuitive-

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-as women running away can show a sign of weakness as they put their offspring in danger)
-early research was only on males (Adrocentrism) so researchers assume that research can be generalised on females, beta bias as M+F aren't the same

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-although it mat be a useful survival mechanism for our ancestors who faced genuine life-threatening situations, modern day life rarely requires such an extreme biological approach (+stressors of modern day life can repeatedly activate-

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-the fi vs fli response which can cause negative impacts on our health as humans can face a lot of stress ie continually activating SyNS, increasing blood pressure, etc can damage blood vessels or cause heart diseases, suggesting fi vs fli response-

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-is a maladaptive response in modern day life

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Fight or Flight

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