General Study Notes

A stimulus or threat that causes stress.

A physiological response that prepares the body for action in threatening situations.

A part of the brain that evaluates if a situation is stressful.

A brain region that activates the body's stress response.

A hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response.

Part of the nervous system that activates the body's response to stress.

Part of the nervous system that calms the body after a stressful event.

The pathway by which the body's stress response is initiated.

The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Made up of the brain and spinal cord, the CNS processes information and makes decisions.

The PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body, sending and receiving information.

Transmit information from the body to the CNS.

Transmit information from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Connect sensory and motor neurons in the CNS, facilitating communication.

The process where neurons communicate with each other across synapses, using neurotransmitters.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that occurs during certain times of the year, typically in winter due to reduced sunlight.

A hormone produced by the pineal gland, primarily during darkness, that regulates sleep and wake cycles.

A treatment for SAD that uses a light box to simulate bright light, potentially resetting melatonin levels.

A biological rhythm that occurs over a shorter period than a day, such as the sleep-wake cycle.

A repeating pattern of distinct sleep stages that occurs approximately every 90-120 minutes.

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement, vivid dreaming, and muscle paralysis.

A stage of sleep consisting of three phases (Stages 1, 2, and 3) with progressively slower brain waves and deeper relaxation.

A sudden muscle spasm that often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to Stage 1 sleep.

Damage to Broca's area and the motor cortex can cause difficulty speaking and controlling movement.

The brain has the ability to reorganize itself after damage, allowing for some functional recovery. This is especially true in younger individuals.

The idea that different hemispheres of the brain specialize in specific functions. For example, the left hemisphere typically controls language processing and the right hemisphere spatial reasoning.

Individuals who underwent corpus callosotomy, a surgery that separates the two hemispheres of the brain, to treat severe epilepsy.

A series of studies investigating hemispheric lateralisation by examining how split-brain patients process information presented to each hemisphere separately.

A surgical procedure that severs the corpus callosum, the thick band of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Visual information is processed on opposite sides of the brain. Left visual field is processed by the right hemisphere, and vice versa.

The ability of the brain to take over functions of a damaged area by reassigning those functions to other areas of the brain.

Adrenaline, a hormone released during stress, triggers several physiological changes, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels, while decreasing digestive activity. It prepares the body for 'fight or flight'.

The 'fight or flight' response is the body's physiological reaction to perceived danger. It involves a cascade of hormonal and neural changes to prepare for combat or escape.

Measuring stress hormones like cortisol in a clinical setting provides objective data on individual stress levels. This helps researchers understand the physiological response to stress.

While the fight or flight response is a general model, it's important to note that individuals respond to stress differently, in terms of the type and amount of hormones released.

The adrenal glands are crucial for managing stress. Individuals without them require hormonal supplements to survive stressful situations, highlighting the vital role of the adrenal glands in the stress response.

The 'freeze' response, a crucial addition to the fight or flight theory, involves an initial state of hyper-vigilance where individuals assess the situation before deciding on a course of action.

The fight or flight theory doesn't fully encompass the complexity of human behavior in stressful situations. The 'freeze' response and the 'tend and befriend' response in women demonstrate additional layers of response.

Research has shown that women often exhibit a 'tend and befriend' response to stress, prioritizing caring for offspring and seeking social support rather than fighting or fleeing.

Neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals.

The long, slender fiber that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body of a neuron.

Root-like structures that extend from the cell body of a neuron, receiving signals from other neurons.

The junction between two neurons where communication occurs through the release of neurotransmitters.

Chemical messengers released at synapses that transmit signals between neurons.

When a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor site, making the receiving neuron more likely to fire.

When a neurotransmitter binds to a receptor site, making the receiving neuron less likely to fire.

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to target specific organs or cells.