PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Amygdala, Cortisol, Pituitary Gland
Document Summary
Can be negative, such as a death in family, loss of job, or heart attack. Can be positive, such as marriage, starting college or a new job, or the birth or adoption of a child. The stress response allows us to get ready for vigorous activity and is perfectly normal. All of the physiological responses that are involved in stress help to mobilize the body"s fight or flight energy stores. The sympathetic nervous system becomes more active, causing the adrenal gland to secrete the hormone adrenaline, resulting in: increased glucose (energy) availability and metabolism, increased cardiovascular output, increase lung capacity (dilation of bronchi, focused attention. The adrenal gland secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine: **the sns acts quickly to set these processes in motion, while circulating levels of adrenaline to allow the system to remain active. Stress also results in the release of cortisol, which is produce in the adrenal gland.
