PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM UNDER STRESS

[Guest guest]

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM UNDER STRESS

A basic concept in any study of stress is the acknowledgment of the link

between what the brain says and the way the body behaves. This is known as

the body-mind connection. The two are often inseparable and most studies on

stress-related behavior emphasize the role of the brain and the biology of

stress in great detail.

Print out a diagram to show the<A

HREF= " http://tc.unl.edu/stress/resources/bodymind.html " > body-mind

connection</A>.

The following are some essential terms needed to understand the basic

concepts of stress behavior and how we can use the body to tackle stress.

Autonomic nervous system: The central nervous system is composed of two main

parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic system. The ANS

controls heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, digestion, elimination,

sensory intake & electrodermal responses.

Sympathetic nervous system: This part of the ANS is responsible for preparing

the body to meet stress. Its responses include: increased heart rate,

increased blood pressure, respiratory rate accelerating. The sympathetic

nervous system also stimulates endocrine glands like the adrenal gland and

thyroid to produce hormones. Adrenaline and noradrenaline and cortisol are

some of the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex during the stress

response.

Parasympathetic nervous system: This portion of the ANS is responsible for

the relaxation response and brings the body back to the relaxed stage. If the

sympathetic reactions are comparable to the accelerator of the car then the

parasymapathetic responses are like the brakes.

The major reactions of the body during stress include:

Increase in heart rate --> increased blood pressure.

Increased respiration rates.

The SNS also increases sweating and is obvious as the electrodermal response.

Also termed palmar sweating, it is often accompanied by cold hands and feet.

The cold hands and feet occur because of the vasoconstriction of the

peripheral arteries that serve the hands and feet. The arteries are

constricted by the medullary hormones.

[Guest guest]

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM UNDER STRESS

A basic concept in any study of stress is the acknowledgment of the link

between what the brain says and the way the body behaves. This is known as

the body-mind connection. The two are often inseparable and most studies on

stress-related behavior emphasize the role of the brain and the biology of

stress in great detail.

Print out a diagram to show the<A

HREF= " http://tc.unl.edu/stress/resources/bodymind.html " > body-mind

connection</A>.

The following are some essential terms needed to understand the basic

concepts of stress behavior and how we can use the body to tackle stress.

Autonomic nervous system: The central nervous system is composed of two main

parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic system. The ANS

controls heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, digestion, elimination,

sensory intake & electrodermal responses.

Sympathetic nervous system: This part of the ANS is responsible for preparing

the body to meet stress. Its responses include: increased heart rate,

increased blood pressure, respiratory rate accelerating. The sympathetic

nervous system also stimulates endocrine glands like the adrenal gland and

thyroid to produce hormones. Adrenaline and noradrenaline and cortisol are

some of the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex during the stress

response.

Parasympathetic nervous system: This portion of the ANS is responsible for

the relaxation response and brings the body back to the relaxed stage. If the

sympathetic reactions are comparable to the accelerator of the car then the

parasymapathetic responses are like the brakes.

The major reactions of the body during stress include:

Increase in heart rate --> increased blood pressure.

Increased respiration rates.

The SNS also increases sweating and is obvious as the electrodermal response.

Also termed palmar sweating, it is often accompanied by cold hands and feet.

The cold hands and feet occur because of the vasoconstriction of the

peripheral arteries that serve the hands and feet. The arteries are

constricted by the medullary hormones.