Introductory Concepts
Allostasis definition
How the body responds to stress to maintain homeostasis (HPA axis)
Outlets of frustration (explain study A)
Rodent stress model; after the shocks, a bar or wood was given to the rats as an outlet of frustration. Cortisol concentrations decreased; rats were less stressed when they had an outlet for frustration
Predictability (Study A; explain)
A bell was sounded before the rats received the electric shock. Cortisol levels decreased when the bell was introduced)
Biological children have ____ stress than stepchildren
Less
During stressful situations that produce elevated glucocorticoids:
1.) Around strangers: stress is amplified
2.) Around friends: stress is lower than normal
Which gland releases the glucocorticoids
Adrenal gland
Cognitive factors modulating stress
Outlets of frustration, social support, predictability, sense of control
Outlets of frustration (Study B; explain)
What are 4 social support factors that lower cortisol levels?
Supportive friends, community involvement, ethnic commonality in your community, and having social support during stressful times (decreases cortisol and sympathetic response)
Lower social ranking in the hierarchy
Increased glucocorticoids
Who started contributing to stress research in the 1800s and what did they contribute?
Bioengineers; parasympathetic system, fight or flight, biological phenomena related to stress
Sense of control study (1st condition)
A lever would be introduced that the rats could pull that would stop the shocks. Cortisol level decreased
What was the only difference between the sense of control study between humans and rodents?
Instead of the shocks, the humans were exposed to a loud, annoying white noise.
Which social factor increases cortisol levels?
Social Isolation
Lower glucocorticoids
Why was there a paradigm shift in the 1950s?
Psychologists began adding to research; mindset, environment, etc.
The outlet has to be distracting, appealing, and it has to involve physical exertion (increases epinephrine and activates the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to calm down stress response)
Predictability study B (explain)
The rats' food schedule was either fixed or random while experiencing the shocks. Rats with a fixed schedule had a decrease in cortisol levels while rats with a random food schedule had an increase in cortisol level.
Dental PATIENTS predictability study (explain)
2 groups: one group had the dentist narrating their procedure (decrease in cortisol levels) and another group had no narration (increase in cortisol levels).
The lower the number of friends:
Higher glucocorticoid concentrations
Rodent Stress Model (5 steps)
1.) Baseline cortisol blood concentration
2.) Random, periodic mild shocks
3.) Elevated cortisol blood concentration and/or ulcer rate
4.) Introduce intervention (cognitive, behavioral, social, environmental.)
5.) Observe possible change in stress level (change in cortisol level and/or ulcer rate)
Sense of control study (2nd condition)
The lever would be removed from the rats and they would continue to receive shocks without being able to stop them. Cortisol levels increased.
Sense of control study (3rd condition)
The lever would be re-introduced, but it wasn't plugged in, so it wouldn't stop the shocks. Even though it didn't work, it gave the rats a false sense of control, which decreased cortisol levels.
The human sense of control study (conditions and results)
1st condition: A lever was introduced that would stop the white noise (cortisol decreased)
2nd condition: The lever was taken away (cortisol increased)
3rd condition: Lever was re-introduced but didn't work (cortisol decreased; false sense of control)
Higher social grooming:
Lower glucocorticoids