7) Stress 1

Question 1

Define what is meant by a ‘stressor’ and ‘stress reactivity’

Answer 1

Stressor- stimuli that causes physiological/psychological change to our stress system SNS
Stress reactivity- the ways we respond to stressors

Question 2

What effects might chronic stress have on the body?

Answer 2

Key changes in body muscles- a state of guardedness
Tension type headaches
Long term heart problems- hypertension/heart attack

Question 3

Give the key finding from Everson-Rose’s multi-ethnic study measuring stress levels across 5 domains

Answer 3

Those experiencing stress had a 10% greater risk of experiencing, even when confounds were accounted for

Question 4

What term did Walter Cannon first term

Answer 4

The ‘fight or flight’ response.

- Short term arousal > heightens system > physiological changes

Question 5

What are the 3 key areas that can cause stress

Answer 5

Psychological, physical and social (can be either acute or chronic

Question 6

The HPA axis of the stress response involved which 3 structures

Answer 6

(H) Hypothalamus (P) Pituitary gland, in brain just below hypothal (A) Adrenal Gland, just above the kidney

Question 7

The HPA axis links which body systems - what is it’s key function?

Answer 7

The endocrine system- responsible for metabolism, growth, development linked with the nervous system

Question 8

Provide the key stages in the HPA stress response

Answer 8

1) Stressro triggers a response
2) The hypothalamus secretes CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormones).
Passes through the anterior pituitary gland
3) CRH then stimulates the synthesis and secretion of ACTH into the blood stream
4) It then passed down into the adrenal gland above kidney (of the adrenal cortex)
5) This then stimulates release of cortisol (anti-inflammatory) - main purpose of working to calm down the stressed system

Question 9

Where is the hypothalamus located and what is it’s key function

Answer 9

Located centrally below the thalamus, and is part of the limbic system. It key role is linking the endocrine with the nervous system via the pituitary gland as well as several homeostasis process i.e. thermoregulation, circadian rhythms, satiety.

Question 10

Located beneath the hypothalamus and releases corticotrophins (CTH, ACTH), thyrotropins (thyroid in neck. What is this structure?

Answer 10

The pituitary gland

Question 11

Releases adrenaline/ cortisol in response to ACTH secretion, metabolism/immune system changes. Located above kidney. What structure is this?

Answer 11

The adrenal gland

Question 12

Name the syndrome when you have too MUCH cortisol

Answer 12

Cushing’s (remember cushion, much soft) syndrome- rapid weight gain, acne, reduced libido, infertility, chronic tiredness

Question 13

Addison’s disease (symptoms like weight loss, weakness/lethargy) is what kind of syndrome?

Answer 13

Having too LITTLE (think ‘need to ADD more- ‘ADDison’) cortisol in your system

Question 14

Adrenaline released in the adrenal gland (above kidney) has what key functions

Answer 14

• Prepares the ANS for organ activity once hormones are released i.e. pupils dilate, dry mouth, increased heart rate
  (simply, most system features HEIGHTEN)
• Adrenaline releases the stored form of energy in muscles (protein&raquo_space; glucose)
• Involved in the 4 F’s (fight, flight, food, fornication)

Question 15

Aside- Where is the source of noradrenaline production (not part of SNS, part of PNS)

Answer 15

The Locus Coeruleus

Question 16

Give the key role of the PNS

Answer 16

Returning the body back to it’s normal state, calms and relaxes. i.e. pupils constrict, reduced heart rate, normal salivation

Question 17

Explain the 3 stages of Han’s Selye’s GAS

Answer 17

1) Alarm stage:
Arouses ANS on stressor first encounter. Adrenaline released into bloodstream and SNS activated
2) Resistance stage:
Continued exposure to the stressor. PNS returns physiological function back to normal.
Over time resistance to stressor increases, activation of PNS to stressor levels off.
3) Exhaustion Stage:
If stressor continues beyond body’s capacity, it drains the body’s resources and lends to greater illness susceptibility

Question 18

What does Berns’ neurobiological study of dread tell us about stress

Answer 18

The evidence shows often the stress of waiting for something can be worse than the experience itself.
Those who felt they had more ‘dread’ would opt for the higher shock level over a shorter period to get it over with

Question 19

Give a few benefits of stress

Answer 19

Sharpened cognition, energy mobilised, increased cardiovascular activity, growth

Question 20

What are typical disorders of stress (effect on growth/ chronic stress & brain structure

Answer 20

• Fatigue, diabetes, hypertension, peptic stomach ulcers, neuron death.
• Stress dwarfism- effects body growth. Orphan boy grew rapidly out of stressful home, but this again halted when his favourite nurse left for a period, before returning to normal again when she returned.
• Reduced number of neurons in the hippocampus of rats with chronic stress induced vs controls

Question 21

What is the body’s immune system derived of for protection against invading bacteria, viruses, foreign bodies

Answer 21

White blood cells in- bone marrow (B lymphocytes), thymus gland (T lymphocytes)

Question 22

Give study examples of stress effect on immune system

Answer 22

1) RATS- Keller induced inescapable shock to rats which gave them chronic stress and weakened their immune system (reduced B & T cell count)
2) RATS ULCERS-
When rats were given more objects/wood to gnaw on , wheel for running = fewer stomach ulcers (frustration outlet)
3) RATS- when given a warning about incoming shocks they also had fewer ulcers (sense of predictability)
4) EXAMS-
Student sample saw weakened immune systems with greater risk to infections like mouth ulcers during the exam period
5) OLD PEOPLE-
When given more choice in an old people’s home, that group after a period were healthier, happier, more active, alert and half as many as control died
6) SPOUSE-
Those with a spouse live longer (act as buffer), risk of dying only increases if you’re a male widow, no different for females.