Biopsychology of Stress

This document discusses the biopsychology of stress, including the role of neurotransmitters, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland in stress response. It also explores the effects of chronic stress on the body and behavior. Additionally, it evaluates various treatments and therapies for stress.

Biopsychology of
Stress

1.1a) Label the following diagram of the brain:
Number Function
1
Frontal lobe- important for many voluntary movement, expressive language
and for managing higher level executive functions like capacity to plan,
organise, initiate, self-monitor and control responses in order to attain a
goal.
2
Thalamus- It controls many unique role, like relaying of many sensory and
mortar signals and relay station filtering information between the brain and
body.
3
Corpus Callosum- Ensuring communication between Left and Right
Hemisphere of brain. It is large connective pathway in brain made up of
nearly 200 million fibres.
4
5 Hypothalamus- supportive in many routine work activities maintaining
body temperature, drinking, eating, energy maintenance and stress control.
6
Pituitary Gland- Also called Master gland because it is involved in many
functions, like release of hormones, secretion of hormones produced from
Hypothalamus.
7 Middle brain- motor movement, visual processing. It acts as a relay station
between visual and auditory systems.
8 Pons- critical role in generating rhythms of breathing
9 Medulla- passing messages between spinal cord and brain
10 Brain system- regulates all actions of human body
11 Spinal Cord- channelises peripheral nervous system
12 Cerebellar Cortex- attention, perception, thoughts, memory etc.
1.1b) 4 Lobes of Cerebral cortex and their associated functions
A) Frontal lobe: Largest lobe, have functions of keeping prospective memory and retaining
Speech and language.

B) Parietal lobe: Posterior to frontal lobe and superior to temporal lobe consists two regions.
Superior lobe, have higher level functions like Motor Planning action. And, Inferior lobe having
functions like Sensorimotor planning, learning, Spatial recognition and differentiations of size,
shape, weight etc.
C) Temporal lobe: Second most substantial portion, have range of functions performed by its
lateral and medial surfaces. They include sound recognition, semantic retrieval, semantic
memory and control, recognition memory, recollection, familiarity and episodic memory.
D) Occipital lobe: Smallest lobe, have functions of visual processing and interpretations.
1.2a) Purpose of Peripheral Nervous system and role played by each branch
Peripheral nervous system is a system of different nerves that are spread across an animal
body starting from Brain and Spinal cord. Nerves that are are released from Brain and Spinal
cord carries various type of information that are generated by brain, as a response to a particular
situation either, or regarding basic and general functions of body. In this way these nerves
maintain communication between brain and different parts of body and thus forms a
communication network system (CNS). Peripheral Nervous system consists two branches which
are helpful in their individual important roles in human body, these are Somatic Nervous system
and Autonomic Nervous system.
Somatic Nervous system- Somatic nerve system further comprises cranial nerves and
optic nerves. Cranial nerves are part of Peripheral nervous system but optical nerves are not
which are connected to retina. Somatic nerves system in network of those nerves which go into
skin and muscles and which are involved in conscious activities.
Autonomic nervous system- This system involves those nerves which are engaged in
sending motor impulses to visceral organs. This system includes automatic functions of body like
heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, body temperature and other functions that work together
with homeostasis.
 Sympathetic system: Sympathetic Nervous System is a part of Autonomic Nervous
System. Like every other part of the body, this system works through the series of
interconnected neurons. Sympathetic Nervous is helpful in body for activating what is
generally considered as Fight response.
 Parasympathetic System: Parasympathetic Nervous system is another part of the three
parts of Autonomic Nervous system. This system is helpful in offering control over many

important tissues in body, however this system is not considered crucial for maintenance
of life, where Sympathetic Nervous system is. Its primary function is to modulate
Visceral organs, such as glands.
1.3a) How nervous system communicate.
Nervous system is the channel that helps in transmission of information that is generated
in brain through chemical reactions. Communication between two neurons is supported by
electrical events called Action potentials and transmission of chemical reactors called
Neurotransmitters. In between two neurons, existed gap is called synapse. Through synapse,
neurotransmitters are seen travelling other neuron containing information. In second neuron,
these neurotransmitters could either be received or incited, or could be hindered or excited. Or is
well to be noted that not all neurotransmitters are accepted or travels to second neuron.
Therefore, in a brain hundreds of events of incitement or excitement results yield of action
potentials.
Neurons Communicate with each other with the help of special supporting chemicals
called Neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters acts a chemical words, carriers of information which
could be comprehended by the receiver Neuron when passed through the Sender Neuron. There
are several types of Neurotransmitters: some are called stimulate neurons, making them more
active; others are known to inhibit them, making them relatively less active.

1.3b) Describing graph of action potential
Action potential are electric events that occurs when information generated by brain are
carried by electric vehicles called Neurons. There are numerous such channels that are sitting in
a cell membrane which channelises receipt and hindrance, in other words that can be called
incitement or excitement of ions. Incitement yields in positive or negatively charged ions to flow
into the cell. However, it is noted by many neuroscientists that, generally inside of a cell is one
which leads to excitement, meaning not accepting ions. Voltage in inside of cell is as low as -
70mV and this come as most important cause behind excitement. Voltage level of -50 mV is
considered as threshold of action potential. This is the level where all major incitement of
excitement takes place. In the graph action potential threshold is represented by dotted line.
Spikes in action potential are seen to occur when any sensitive reaction of neurons take place.
Illustration 1: Graph of Action potential

1.4a) Complete the table below to explain the role of neurotransmitters and what physiological
effects they may have on behaviour. (noretanoin, serotonin- do this)
Neurotransmitter Effect on receiving neuron
(inhibitory/excitatory) Related behaviour
Serotonin: It is a main
Harmon that helps to keep
mood stable, make well being
feeling and happiness. It
impacts on the whole body in
positive manner and it enables
for brain cells and other
nervous cells to communicate
with each other.
In order for neurons to send
messages throughout the body,
they should be able to
communicate with one another to
transmit signals. This is an
Inhibitory Neuron.
It generates communication
between various parts of a human
body.
Acetylcholine (Ach): It is a
key neurotransmitter that
based on the parasympathetic
nervous system and important
portion of the autonomic
nervous system.
It is the chief neurotransmitter of
the nervous system. A part of it
connects with smooth muscle,
dilates blood vessel, increases
bodily secretions and slows heart
rate. This is an Exhibitory
Neuron.
It establishes effective behavior
between various parts of the
human body.

Noradrenaline: Together with
adrenaline it enhance heart
rate as well as blood pumping
from the heart. It also enhance
blood pressure and supports
break down fat and increase
blood sugar levels to provide
more energy to body.
It produces many effects in the
body, the most notable being
those associated with the fight to
fight response. This is an
Inhibitory Neuron.
It regulated production of various
effects in a human body. Which
is also related to fight to fight
response of the nervous system.
1.5a) Describe how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland controls the release of adrenaline and
cortisol (200 words)
Two main cortex is being produced by adrenal cortex, which are corticosteroid
hormones-glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. The release of this glucocorticoid is triggered
by hypothalamus and pituitary glands. When the hypothalamus produces corticotrophin-releasing
hormone, the pituitary gland to release adrenal corticotropic hormone. These hormones, in turn,
alert the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroid hormones. Glucocorticoids released by the
adrenal cortex is an inclusion of:
 Hydrocortisone: It is commonly known as cortisol, it regulates how the body converts
proteins, fats as well as carbohydrates into energy element.
 Corticosterone: This hormone with help of hydrocortisone, regulates immune response
and suppresses various inflammatory reactions caused in a human body.
2.1a) Define stress
A sense of mental or physical pressure is tension. Any incident or thinking that makes you feel
upset, furious, or anxious will come from it. Stress is the response of the body to a threat or
demand. Stress could be beneficial in small bursts, such as whether it lets you escape risk or
reach a deadline.
2.1b) Explain internal and external sources of stress and their effects on the body

External causes of stress- For employees, external sources of tension are relatively
straightforward to grasp. This is because each day, many of us find themselves experiencing this
sort of scenario. Below some key factors are mentioned:
 Troubles in partnerships
 Transfer Homes
 Commuting in cars or waiting
 Severe accident or chronic disease
 In your life, drastic changes
 Matrimony or Divorce
 Economic tensions
 Family mourning
 A massive amount of work-related circumstances
Internal causes of stress External afflictions are triggered by conditions outside of us and outside
our influence that occur. You can't deter your manager from firing you or insisting that you fly
back at the week for extra hours. However, internal stressors emerge from inside you. Such
stressors may be linked to:
 Your view of events
 Your conclusions
 Your desires
 Your goals
 Going to measure you against conditions or others
 Your personal priorities
Impact on body: Indeed, the body, you’re thinking and emotions, and your actions may be
influenced by stress symptoms. Being able to recognise typical signs of stress will assist you in
handling them. Unchecked stress can lead to many health issues, such as hypertension, high
cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
2.2a) Identify two effects of chronic stress on the human body:
• Irritability
• Fatigue
2.2b) Evaluate how these two effects of chronic stress can impact the body and behaviour:

Irritability: This is an upheaval. However, some call "agitation" a more serious type of
irritability. Whatever the word you choose, you can typically get irritated or angry quickly if you
are irritable due to stress. In reaction to difficult circumstances, you may feel that. It can also
be sign of physical or psychiatric disorder. Infants and small children, particularly when
exhausted or sick, frequently seem irritable. Infections in ear or stomach, for instance, frequently
lead to fussy kids due to stress.
Fatigue: Fatigue or Tiredness is term used to describe sense of tiredness or energy insignificance
which may be occur due to stress. It's not same as feeling either tired or drowsy. One have no
drive as well as no energy because of sleepy. It can be a sign of tiredness to sleep, although it is
not same. Fatigue is common symptom of several medical conditions which range between mild
to extreme. Any lifestyle decisions, for instance, lack of physical activity or unhealthy diet often
result spontaneously. A detailed history is important to aid make underlying diagnosis of cause
of exhaustion symptoms. Even so, nearly one majority of respondents do not find the trigger and
don't have a diagnosis.
2.3a) Evaluate three treatments or therapies for stress:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):
CBT is probably one of most frequent behavioral types used to fix the habits of
perception and behaviour. Psychiatrist will assist in recognizing your stressors and in seeking
better ways to reduce effects. CBT can be used in short or longer term. It will help to treat
chronic emotional wellbeing as well as assist you deal with stressful experiences and other
sources of stress.
Behavioral therapy
The treatment for developmental behavioral variations is close to CBT. Although unlike
CBT, behaviors rather than reasoning are concentrated in behavioral therapy. One's decisions are
determined by past habits as per this form of the therapy. You will also establish new habits and
even prevent more stress by modifying behavioral reactions to stress problem. Behavioral
treatment works well in case of a longer-term stress cause, including depression, fear, phobias
including attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD).
Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is common approach used for the treatment of phobia, PTSD including
anxiety disorders. Unless one suffers from mental health disorder that can lead to fear those
circumstances, things, people and locations, one may benefit from these kind of treatment. This
form of treatment will also help one to tackle persistent depression as one want to prevent any
more stress. Regrettably, stress and anxiety-related conditions may intensify such avoidance
while causing one even uncomfortable.

REFERENCES
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awake brain using EEG recordings.
Chao, S.H., Liao, Y.T., Chen, V.C.H., Li, C.J., McIntyre, R.S., Lee, Y. and Weng, J.C., 2018.
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