Nervous System Fuctioning Flashcards

Question

what is the freeze reaction characterised by?

Answer 1

Inability to move or make sound Slight slowing of racing heart Rapid reduction in blood pressure collapsing of tense muscles Orienting response of the head or eyes towards direction of the threat followed by hyper vigilance.

Answer 2

Keep the body at an elevated state of arousal Energises the body Enhances metabolism Turns off all non essential bodily systems not required to deal with the stressor. EG digestion, reproductive functions and inhibits production of growth hormones Blocks activity of white blood cells that contribute to inflammation Retards tissue repair - slows wound healing

Answer 3

Impaired immune system functioning → vulnerability to diseases Cold, flus Hypertension (high blood pressure) Digestive problems Obesity Diabetes Long term risks for heart attack and stroke Impaired cognitive performance, learning problems, impaired memory formation and recall and mental health disorders

Answer 4

Change in the production of neurotransmitters in the gut (e.g. gut bacteria help produce dopamine, GABA and over 80% of the body’s serotonin) The production and activity of neurotransmitters in the nervous system immune system impairments, digestive disorders, numerous inflammatory diseases and infections, stress reactivity, heart disease, Changes in mood, cognitive functioning, neurological conditions such as autism and Parkinson’s disease various mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and depression. Chemical agents produced by the gut microbiota also enter the bloodstream and communicate with the brain and other distant organs such as the heart and liver.

Answer 5

changes in blood flow gastric secretions gut motility (movement of food through the tract); increase in visceral perception (heightened sensitivity to gastrointestinal actions and processes) intestinal permeability (greater leakage through the gut lining); negative effects on gut microbiota.

Answer 6

Identifies biological processes associated with the body's response to stress. Identifies a predictable pattern of physiological responses associated with the distinct stages that can be measured in individuals. Recognises the relationship between chronic stress and illness/diseases. Identifies how our bodies can eventually run out of resources and become vulnerable to disease. Idea of stress is now widely accepted in psychological and medical fields

Answer 7

Focuses on the biological aspects of stress and ignores the importance of psychological factors, including emotion and cognition in the stress response. Based on research that was conducted on rats, reducing generalisability of the model to the human population. Prescribes a uniform model for every individual to all stressors. It fails to recognise the subjective nature of stress response because different people respond to different stressors in unique ways. Specifically the role of the brain in interpreting a situation or event as stressful. For example, two people may appraise, or ‘weigh up’, the same situation and judge it differently as either stressful or not stressful. Similarly, not all people experience the same physiological reactions to chronic stress. For example, some experience hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, skin rashes or heart disease, whereas others may develop physical aches or pains, gain or lose weight, or become generally ‘run down’ without a specific disorder. This suggests that, despite the same bodily arousal systems and processes being involved in the GAS in all people, the precise way that prolonged activation can lead to disease could involve other biological and/or psychological processes.

Answer 8

Allows one to track the subjective stress response of an individual Allows for consideration of cognitive processes [thinking behind stressor - how we judge it] within the stress response, which the biological models do not take into account. Human subjects were used as a source of data during the creation of the model. Helps to explain why the same stressor may have different effects on different people. Reappraisal stage acknowledges that a stressor and its demands may change over time. Coping stage (emotion and problem-focussed strategies) provide suggestions for dealing with a stressor.

Answer 9

Some argue that the stages of primary and secondary appraisal can occur simultaneously, and so ordering them chronologically may not always be reflective of the true stress response. Individuals are not necessarily aware of why they feel certain kinds of stress as primary appraisal suggests. Does not include biological processes of stress. Stress is a psychobiological process. Cannot easily be tested by research, as human subjects are not necessarily consciously aware at all stages of appraisal, and therefore there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the model.

Answer 10

Recognise whether the use of a flexible coping strategy is appropriate Selecting a coping strategy that suits the situational circumstances Recognise when the coping strategy being used is ineffective Discontinue an ineffective coping strategy Produce and implement an alternative coping strategy