Chp. 6: Neuroendocrinology of the Stress-Response
What is stress? How do we define stress, stressors and the stress-response.
The nervous system plays a critical role in the stress-response:
- perception of events as stressful
- activation of the HPA axis-->secretes glucocorticoids
- activation of the ANS-->secretes catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
- activation of pathways within the brain important for other responses (e.g., locomotion)
Numerous events occur during an acute stress-response:
- changess in energy metabolism, heart rate, breathing, digestive processes, growth, analgesia, regulation of immune system, and behavior
- these changes are considered adaptive as they occur for short periods of time and they allow an individual to take appropriate action in a threatening situation
However, chronic exposure to stress can alter these responses in specific ways that leads to the development of physical disease, and in humans, psychiatric illness. This relationship is influenced by genetic and experiential variables--vulnerability!!