Nervous System
Identify the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system and key nerve primarily involved in the communication between the brain and the gut.
Subdivision - enteric NS
Nerve - vagus nerve
Provide a strength and a limitation of the transactional model of stress and coping
One mark for one of the following as a strength:
One mark for one of the following as a limitation:
Explain coping flexibility
Changing coping strategy to meet the demands of the stressor
Replacing maladaptive strategies with adaptive ones
Employing multiple coping strategies to successfully overcome the stressor
Being creative enough to keep generating new ideas until something works
Changing coping strategy to meet the demands of the stressor
What is the name of the process of plasticity that occurs as the brain redirects neural signals through different neural pathways in order to regain functioning?
Rerouting
Using an example, distinguish between neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.
Neurotransmitters are a chemical substance produced by a neuron; they carry messages from one neuron to another. For example, GABA or glutamate
Neuromodulators are neurotransmitters that can have a modulatory effect – influencing the activity of multiple neurons. For example, dopamine or serotonin
Explain how and why the immune system is affected during periods of stress
Cortisol is released in large amounts during the chronic stress response
Cortisol is a hormone that has many functions in the chronic stress response including that it suppresses the immune system which leads to increased susceptibility to illnesses/infections
Explain the possible secondary appraisal according to the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping for the following two people:
Both Lucas and Lily have a test tomorrow. Lucas is not experiencing stress, but Lily is.
Lucas has adequate resources as he is not feeling stressed
Lily has inadequate resources as she if feeling stressed
Distinguish between a controlled experiment and a correlational study
In a controlled experiment there is clear manipulation of an IV and you can draw a cause and effect relationship, however, in a correlational study there is no manipulation of an IV and you cannot suggest causation.
Zac touched a hot kettle accidentally while making tea.
Outline the role of the spinal reflex when Zac's hand jerked away, identify this type of response and justify your answer.
Role of Spinal Cord Reflex
Unconscious response
Happened without Zac's awareness
When Daniel hears his teacher tell the class to clear their tables so they can complete ‘the SAC test’, he suddenly realises he forgot about it and his heart begins pounding rapidly. Which stage of the GAS is Daniel most likely experiencing?
Daniel is most likely experiencing the ALARM COUNTERSHOCK stage of the GAS model – he’s in this stage due to the physiological response of his increased heart beat as a response to the stressor
Explain what is meant by acute stress and explain how the body reacts to deal with this type of stress
Acute stress lasts for a relatively short amount of time and often involves the fight-flight-freeze response
The sympathetic nervous system is activated throughout the FFF response which prepares the body to deal with an immediate stressor, however in the freeze response the parasympathetic NS is dominant
As Tara is typing her book, she becomes a faster typer. Referring to changes to the neural pathway, outline how Tara learns to type faster.
LTP is the long-lasting and experience-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections that are regularly coactivated at high intensity stimulation.
Each time Tara types structural changes occur to the neural synapse as a result of the increased release of neurotransmitters, specifically glutamate:
• increased number of receptor sites on the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron.
• bushier dendrites on the postsynaptic neuron due to sprouting.
• increased number of synaptic connections between neurons due to sprouting.
This causes her to type faster.
Describe the processes that occur within the nervous system in order to catch a ball coming towards a goalkeeper
Explain which stage of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, an individual would have been in if they were experiencing frequent illness, but still able to go to work.
Resistance stage
Cortisol has been released over a prolonged time OR statement about that it decreases the immune system how this has made an individual more vulnerable to disease/illness
Since the individual is able to go to work their body is functioning and they have not yet entered the Exhaustion stage
Distinguish between approach and avoidance strategies with reference to the stressor of planning a wedding
Approach strategies directly confront or deal with the stressor whereas avoidant strategies do not directly deal with the stressor.
For planning a wedding procrastinating would be an avoidant strategy and contacting a wedding planner would be an approach strategy
With reference to the gut brain axis, describe how an individual's diet might have an impact on their experience of stress.
The Gut Brain axis is a bidirectional communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain
Therefore there is a link between the gut microbiota and an individuals experience of stress.
A protective factors is a diverse gut microbiota:
A risk factor is lack of diversity in the gut microbiota which can increase an individual's experience of stress.
Describe the process of neurotransmitter for glutamate across the neural synapse.
Draw a picture to represent this process.
1. Glutamate is released from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic gap
2. Glutamate binds to the complementary receptor sites on the dendrites of the post synaptic neuron
3. Glutamate = key, receptor = lock
4. Glutamate has an excitatory effect - meaning that it increases the likelihood of the post synaptic neuron firing an action potential.
Benjamin and Georgina were both hoping to get into undergraduate medicine after leaving school. When the ATARs were released, it was clear that Benjamin would not qualify. Benjamin was initially very upset and disappointed, but he then began to research alternative pathways into medicine.
Explain Benjamin’s reaction to his failure to qualify for medicine in terms of the types of appraisal described in Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.
Primary appraisal for Benjamin - stressful or of significance, further classifies as a challenge as he is beginning to explore possible alternative pathways
Secondary appraisal for Benjamin - adequate coping resources, not stressed as he is able to search for other options.
With reference to context-specific effectiveness evaluate social withdrawal as a coping strategy for the prolonged stress associated with a high-pressure job
Context-specific effectiveness is when there is a good match or fit between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation (the stressor)
Social withdrawal does not have much context-specific effectiveness for the stress associated with a high-pressure job because it does not directly assist with managing the stress of a high-pressure job
Write as many key terms as you can from this topic in 2 minutes!!!
Answers will vary