PSYC 111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Sympathetic Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Blood Sugar
18 Jun 2018
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Chapter Objectives:
●To provide a conceptualization for what ‘stress’ is, acute biological reactions of
the body to stress, and psychological coping mechanisms that determine
individual differences in stress reactivity.
●Describe the many long term health outcomes of stressor exposure and its
ultimate cost (psychological and physical).
Brief Lecture Outline:
I.General overview of stress
A. Definitions
●Effector Molecules: the molecules in a cascade of neural or hormonal event
which ultimately have the most profound effect on the organism.
○ There are dozen of different stress hormones
B. Sources of stress
● Major types:
○Frustration: whenever pursuit of goal is thwarted (when you want
something you can’t have)
○Conflict: when 2 or more incompatible motivations or behavioral
impulses compete for expression (approach-approach, avoidance-
avoidance, approach-avoidance)
○Change: any substantial alterations in ones living circumstances that
require readjustment
○Pressure: involves expectations or demands that one behave in a certain
way (pressure to perform or conform)
●Stressor: an object which disrupts the normal balance or equilibrium of an
organism. Stressors can be characterized on five domains.
○ Chronicity
○ Intensity/severity
○ Predictability
○ Controllability
○ Duration
●Stress response- the physiological or psychological state which is elicited by a
stressor
○ Also responsive to internal threats
■ Ex: drop in blood glucose in diabetics
C. Biological consequences of stress
o Increased arousal and alertness
o Inc. BP
o Inc. metabolism
o Energy conservation – inhibition of auxiliary functions (ie. Don’t digest food
and just take what need of energy)
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o Pain inhibition
o Altered immune function
o IBS
o Heart disease
o Weight loss/gain
D. Brain-body pathways in stress
II. Biological responses to stress
A. Sympathetic nervous system
● autonomic arousal releases epi and norepi which are the reason for physiological
responses to stress.
○ Responsible for immediate burst of arousal (adrenaline rush)
○ Release of epi and norepi from multiple different places throughout the
body
■ From brain – stimulates arousal
■ From nerve terminals to target tissues
■ Adrenal glands – (adrenal medulla)
○ Epi/norepi bind to receptors and elicit a tissue specific response that are
designed to promote survival.
■ Ex: opens nasal passageways and bronchi, dilation of pupils,
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
To provide a conceptualization for what stress" is, acute biological reactions of the body to stress, and psychological coping mechanisms that determine individual differences in stress reactivity. Describe the many long term health outcomes of stressor exposure and its ultimate cost (psychological and physical). Effector molecules: the molecules in a cascade of neural or hormonal event which ultimately have the most profound effect on the organism. There are dozen of different stress hormones: sources of stress. Frustration: whenever pursuit of goal is thwarted (when you want something you can"t have) Conflict: when 2 or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression (approach-approach, avoidance- avoidance, approach-avoidance) Change: any substantial alterations in ones living circumstances that require readjustment. Pressure: involves expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way (pressure to perform or conform) Stressor: an object which disrupts the normal balance or equilibrium of an organism.
