PSY 250 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Innate Immune System
29 Apr 2016
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Psychological stress: graduating from college, losing a job. Physical stress: exposure to extreme temperatures, lack of sleep, etc. Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (hpa axis: hypothalamus released corticotrophin-releasing factor (crf (crh)), which stimulates the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (acth, acth then causes release of glucocorticoids (cortisol) from the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Ex. gastric ulcers- very painful lesions to the lining of the stomach. Stress increases susceptibility of the stomach wall to damage from bacteria. Individuals who had higher levels of psychological stress developed more colds. Individuals who report having more stress have greater incidence of heart disease. Psychoneuroimmunology: the study of interactions among psychological factors, the nervous system, and the immune system. The immune system protects our body against foreign microorganisms pathogens. Two divisions of the immune system: the innate immune system is the body"s first line of defense that acts near entry points to the body and attacks pathogens.
