stress

Question 1

what is stress?

Answer 1

one’s physiological response to a physical, emotional, or mental challenge that activates the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis

Question 2

what are some things that happen during acute stress?

Answer 2

• activation of sympathetic nervous system
• rapid mobilization of energy from storage sites
• inhibition of immune system and digestion
• sharper senses

Question 3

what is the HPA axis?

Answer 3

a physiological system that assists the sympathetic nervous system through the secretion of glucocorticoids

Question 4

how is the HPA axis activated?

Answer 4

1. hypothalamus releases CRH.
2. CRH causes pituitary gland to release ACTH into the blood.
3. ACTH causes adrenal glands to release glucocorticoids into the blood.
4. hypothalamus responds to reduce glucocorticoids if they are too high (negative feedback loop)

Question 5

what are two impacts of stress on learning and memory?

Answer 5

1. decreased long term potentiation
2. increased number of errors during tasks

Question 6

chronic stress associated with being near the bottom of a hierarchically organized social structure leads to …

Answer 6

decreased hippocampus size and a loss of neurons in the hippocampus