We started our 'Stress' topic (an aspect of Physiological Psychology - focusing on how the body works) last week with an introduction to the concept of psychological stress, and a look the changes in the body which accompany different kinds of stress response. Here is the Presentation.
The specificaiton specifically mentions two systems in the body which become activated when we perceive a stressor (a stimulus which produces a stress response).
The Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary system (SAM) leads to the acute (fast) 'fight or flight' response - adrenalin is quickly released into the blood increasing heart and breathing rates and preparing the body for action by diverting blood to the brain and muscles.
The Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal axis (HPA) leads to a chronic (slow) stress response which is less obvious - the end result is the release of cortisol, a hormone which increases blood glucose levels and the energy available to the body, but makes the immune system less effective.
These are named in the specification so you must be able to desribe them in reasonable detail. Homework was to produce a visual revision poster using as many of the words on this Key terms list as possible, showing the body's acute (fast) and chronic (slow) stress responses.
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