The Fight or Flight Response

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  • Created by: asusre
  • Created on: 05-04-21 12:18
What is the outer layer of the adrenal gland and which hormone does it release?
The outer layer of the adrenal gland is the adrenal cortex, which releases cortisol.
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What is the inner layer of the adrenal gland and which hormone does it release?
The inner layer of the adrenal gland is the adrenal medulla, which releases adrenaline and noradrenaline.
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Describe the physiological changes in the body after the release of adrenaline.
Pupils dilate, respiration increases, heart rate increases, the liver increases glucose production, muscle tension increases, sweat production increases, the mouth dries.
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Why do the pupils dilate?
The pupils dilate to improve vision.
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Why does respiration increase?
Respiration/breathing rate increases to increase oxygen intake.
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Why does heart rate increase?
Heart rate increases to speed up blood flow to vital organs and improve the spread of adrenaline throughout the body.
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Why does the liver increase glucose production?
The liver increases glucose production to increase energy.
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Why does muscle tension increase?
Muscle tension increases to improve speed and reaction time.
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Why does the skin increase production of sweat?
Sweat production increases to facilitate temperature regulations.
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Why does the mouth dry up?
The mouth dries as saliva production is inhibited.
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What is the fight and flight response?
The fight or flight response is a reflex response to a stressor in the environment where the bosy becomes physiologically roused to give us extra strength and speed to fight or run away from a threat.
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What is the sequence of events which is triggered in response to acute stress?
The Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary pathway (SAM) occurs in the endocrine system and sympathetic nervous system during the fight or flight response.
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What happens during the Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary pathway?
The amygdala interprets a stressor. The hypothalamus activates the pituitary gland, which triggers the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline, which triggers physiological changes in the body.
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What state is activated by the autonomic nervous system during the sympathetic adrenal medullary pathway?
The autonomic nervous system changes from a resting state to a physiologically aroused sympathetic state.
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What happens when the stressful event is over?
The so-called 'rest and digest' response starts, where the body returns to the parasympathetic (resting) state.
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What process is activated if the brain continues to percieve the situation as stressful?
In times of chronic stress, the HPA axis is activated.
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What happens during the process of the HPA axis?
The hypothalamus secretes Cortisol Releasing Hormone (CRH). The pituitary gland secretes ACTH. The adrenal cortex secretes cortisol.
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What is the effect of cortisol on the body?
Cortisol suppresses unnecessary function such as the digestive and immune systems to save energy for prioritised functions such as running.
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How does the body regulate homeostasis?
Homeostaisis is maintained using the negative feedback loop as the brain monitors hormone levels in the body.
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What happens during the negative feedback loop?
When a stressor is percieved, the glands secrete hormones which activate physiological changes in the body.
The brain communicates with glands when the optimum level of a hormone is detected, which inhibits the secretion of the hormone. Physiological cha
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What are the limitations of the fight or flight response?
Tend and beftiend, negative consequences of an overactive stress response, alternative stress responses (freeze), genetic differences.
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Which study found that women have a 'tend and befriend' response to stress?
Taylor et al. (2000) found a 'tend and befriend' response to stress.
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What is a negative consequence of an overactive stress response?
Too much cortisol in the body can suppress the immune response, which shuts down the body's defence against infections.
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Which study found that there is a 'freeze' response to stress?
Gray (1988) found a 'freeze' response to stress.
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Which study found evidence of a genetic basis for sex differences in stress responses?
Lee and Harvey (2012) found evidence of a genetic basis for sex differences in responses to stress.
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What did Lee and Harvey (2012) suggest was the reason for sex differences in stress responses?
The SRY gene which is only found on the Y chromosome promotes aggression, which results in the fight or flight response.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the inner layer of the adrenal gland and which hormone does it release?

Back

The inner layer of the adrenal gland is the adrenal medulla, which releases adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Card 3

Front

Describe the physiological changes in the body after the release of adrenaline.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why do the pupils dilate?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why does respiration increase?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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