ar 2008b psychophysiology of stress symp parasymp

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Psychophysiology of Stress and RelaxationPsychophysiology of Stress and Relaxation

By: Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, October / By: Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, October / 20082008Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008

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PerceptionPerception

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008

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ExpectationExpectation4

A negative emotional experienceA negative emotional experience

accompanied by predictable:accompanied by predictable:

••biochemical, biochemical,

••physiological,physiological,

••cognitive, and cognitive, and

••behavioral changesbehavioral changes

that are directed either towardsthat are directed either towards

••altering the stressful event or altering the stressful event or

••accommodating to its effects. accommodating to its effects. Baum, Baum, 19901990

What is Stress?What is Stress?


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Sources of StressSources of Stress

•• PhysicalPhysical

•• Actual physical illActual physical ill--health or harmhealth or harm

•• PsychologicalPsychological

•• Anticipation of physical harmAnticipation of physical harm

•• Anticipation of damage to selfAnticipation of damage to self--esteem, esteem, social standing, important relationships social standing, important relationships


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Stress response Stress response •• Aversive stimuli can elicit emotional Aversive stimuli can elicit emotional

responses:responses:•• Behavioral component: Fight or Flight Behavioral component: Fight or Flight

responseresponse

•• Autonomic component: Sympathetic Autonomic component: Sympathetic

activationactivation

•• Endocrine component: secretion of Endocrine component: secretion of

epinephrine, NEepinephrine, NE

•• Level of Stress is determined by personLevel of Stress is determined by person--environment fit:environment fit:

Depends upon how an event is appraised, and whether the Depends upon how an event is appraised, and whether the

person perceives themselves as possessing the resources person perceives themselves as possessing the resources needed to respond to the event successfully.needed to respond to the event successfully.


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Biological basis of ExcitabilityBiological basis of Excitability

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Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008 Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008

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NeuronNeuron

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Membrane resting potentialMembrane resting potential

•• Caused by difference in distribution of + and Caused by difference in distribution of + and -- ions ions inside and outside of the cell (inside and outside of the cell (--7070mV inside relative to mV inside relative to outside)outside)

•• The basic signaling properties of neurons are determined The basic signaling properties of neurons are determined by changes in the resting potentialby changes in the resting potential


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Neural TransmissionNeural Transmission


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Synaptic junctionSynaptic junction


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Parts of the Nervous SystemParts of the Nervous System


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Parts of Nervous SystemParts of Nervous System


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Parts of Nervous SystemParts of Nervous System


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Autonomous Nervous SystemAutonomous Nervous System


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The Autonomic Nervous SystemThe Autonomic Nervous System


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Rest & DigestRest & Digest Fight or FlightFight or Flight

Resting Homeostasis Resting Homeostasis Stress ResponderStress Responder

BrakesBrakes AcceleratorAccelerator

Point to point Point to point Systemic Fire AlarmSystemic Fire Alarm

ParasympatheticParasympathetic SympatheticSympathetic

Autonomic Nervous System BranchesAutonomic Nervous System Branches

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008 Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 20082008

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Central Autonomic CentersCentral Autonomic Centers


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HypothalamusHypothalamus


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Blood PressureBlood Pressure

WaterWater balancebalance

ShiveringShivering

FeedingFeeding

SatietySatiety

Body TemperatureBody Temperature


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Autonomic neural pathwaysAutonomic neural pathways


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Visceral ReflexVisceral Reflex


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HomeostasisHomeostasis


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Physiology of Stress ResponsePhysiology of Stress Response


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ThalamusThalamusCortexCortex

HyppocampusHyppocampus

MedullaMedullaCerebellumCerebellum


AmygdalaAmygdala

Emotional BrainEmotional Brain

1122


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The Brain and the Stress ResponseThe Brain and the Stress Response1.1. A A sensory nervesensory nerve registers a registers a

stressful message.stressful message.

2.2. The message arrives to thalamus The message arrives to thalamus and from there to the cortex (for and from there to the cortex (for mental processing) and to the mental processing) and to the

limbic systemlimbic system (for emotional (for emotional assessment)assessment)..

3.3. The The thalamusthalamus then stimulates the then stimulates the hypothalamus.hypothalamus.

4.4. TheThe hypothalamus, hypothalamus, in turn, in turn, activates the activates the endocrine systemendocrine systemand the and the sympathetic nervous sympathetic nervous

system.system. This action is what initiates This action is what initiates the stress reactivity. the stress reactivity.


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Stress ResponseStress Response

11 22

HYPAC axisHYPAC axis SAM systemSAM system

aa

bb

cc

bb

aa

cc

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11

22

aa

bb

cc

aa

bb

cc

Stress ResponseStress Response



•• activation of activation of

hypothalamichypothalamic--pituitarypituitary--

adrenal axis leading to adrenal axis leading to

release of stress hormones release of stress hormones

((cortisolcortisol))

•• activation of the activation of the

sympathetic nervous sympathetic nervous

system which increases system which increases

release of release of norepinephrinenorepinephrine

and epinephrineand epinephrine

Physiology of Stress ResponsePhysiology of Stress Response34

Courtesy of the Erikson Institute, ChicagoStress can be studied byStress can be studied by

measuring the stress measuring the stress

hormone hormone cortisolcortisol

CortisonCortison can be measured in can be measured in

small samples of children’ssmall samples of children’s

salivasaliva

Children dip cottonChildren dip cotton

dental rolls in a fewdental rolls in a few

grains of sweet crystalsgrains of sweet crystals

and lick off the sweet tasteand lick off the sweet taste

Like “dip stick” candyLike “dip stick” candy


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Coping Babysitters Who were:Coping Babysitters Who were:

Sensitive and ResponsiveSensitive and Responsive Cold and DistantCold and Distant


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Sensitive/Response Care by Sensitive/Response Care by ““BabysittersBabysitters”” Buffers Buffers

Stress Hormones in Stress Hormones in 99--monthmonth--olds olds

-0.1

-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Sensitive/Responsive CareSensitive/Responsive Care

High LowHigh Low


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Chronic Exposure to StressorsChronic Exposure to Stressors•• Chronic stress is damaging to healthChronic stress is damaging to health

–– Air traffic controllers: more likely to developAir traffic controllers: more likely to develop

–– High blood pressureHigh blood pressure

–– Ulcers and diabetesUlcers and diabetes

–– Chronic secretion of Chronic secretion of glucocorticoidsglucocorticoids leads to:leads to:

•• Increased blood pressure (Increased blood pressure (----> stroke, heart attacks)> stroke, heart attacks)

•• Loss of neurons in brain (e.g. Loss of neurons in brain (e.g. hippocampalhippocampal field CAfield CA11))

•• Suppression of the immune system (Suppression of the immune system (----> illness)> illness)

•• Suppression of the inflammatory system (delays Suppression of the inflammatory system (delays healing)healing)

•• Prolonged excess glucose availability Prolonged excess glucose availability ----> diabetes> diabetes

–– Prolonged activation of cardiovascular system Prolonged activation of cardiovascular system ----> high > high blood pressure; heart diseaseblood pressure; heart disease


(dysfunction in normal regulatory (dysfunction in normal regulatory mechanisms for stress)mechanisms for stress)

•• Panic disorderPanic disorder

•• Obsessive Compulsive DisorderObsessive Compulsive Disorder

•• Post traumatic stress disorderPost traumatic stress disorder

•• PhobiasPhobias

•• Generalized Anxiety DisorderGeneralized Anxiety Disorder

Collectively, effect Collectively, effect 1010--1515% of population.% of population.

Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders


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The EndThe End


ar 2008b psychophysiology of stress symp parasymp

Health & Medicine

thelimbic system

immune system

stress ulcers

psychophysiology of

nervous systemdr

selflevel of stress

initiatesthe stress

sam system b 1a12c b