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VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Psychology => Topic started by: HiddenUser on September 20, 2012, 07:32:15 pm

Title: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: HiddenUser on September 20, 2012, 07:32:15 pm
Which is the main hormone involved in CAUSING* the Fight or Flight response? Also what is the neurotransmitter involved in the FF response?
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: pi on September 20, 2012, 07:35:35 pm
Adrenaline
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: brenden on September 20, 2012, 08:30:11 pm
Yep adrenalin for sure. Think of the physiological symptoms experienced during an "adrenaline rush"  - increased heart rate, decreased saliva etc etc. Sound familiar?
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: HiddenUser on September 20, 2012, 08:54:43 pm
Is it the cause of the response too?

I'm kinda confused on which main hormone causes it.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: pi on September 20, 2012, 08:59:18 pm
Hormones and neurotransmitters are the same in this case: adrenaline is "both".
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: brenden on September 20, 2012, 09:03:16 pm
Is it the cause of the response too?

I'm kinda confused on which main hormone causes it.
The stressor is the cause of the response.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: pi on September 20, 2012, 09:05:36 pm
And the stressor is usually "fear", which is probably beyond the scope of the course to understand.


(look up the role of the amygdala if you are overly keen on it though)
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: brenden on September 20, 2012, 09:10:40 pm
And the stressor is usually "fear", which is probably beyond the scope of the course to understand.


(look up the role of the amygdala if you are overly keen on it though)
We cover the amygdala in Psych. Well, it's examinable at least.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: pi on September 20, 2012, 09:12:02 pm
Ah ok, that's pretty cool then, sorry about that haha
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: brenden on September 20, 2012, 09:13:55 pm
Ah ok, that's pretty cool then, sorry about that haha
Nah no sweat. There's a fair amount of overlap from what my Bio friends tell me.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: katykins on September 20, 2012, 09:54:46 pm
Im confused the text im using doesnt go into much detail about how the body recognises a stressor activating the hpa axis ect..is there a particular neurotransmitter that causes a reaction from the hypothalmus to activate the hpa axis? i know that adrenaline is the end product ect...
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: HiddenUser on September 20, 2012, 10:16:09 pm
I'm kind of confused aswell because in one of my tests it asks to specify the key neurotransmitter and hormone that CAUSES a fight-or-flight response.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: pi on September 22, 2012, 01:14:18 am
I think there are multiple factors that can activate the hpa-axis, not a single molecule. But from googling, serotonin seems to play a key role in chronic cases.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: Tomw2 on September 22, 2012, 12:25:51 pm
The physiological fight/flight response to an acute stimulus/stimuli is caused primarily by adrenaline (and noradrenaline), which is both a hormone acting on the body via the blood stream and a neurotransmitter.

In longer term stress adaptation and response (e.g. final weeks of semester, living in a violent/dangerous neighbourhood, military training) the primary agent is cortisol (a hormone). This hormone is also primarily responsible for the long term effects of stress (e.g. immune suppression).

Im confused the text im using doesnt go into much detail about how the body recognises a stressor activating the hpa axis ect..is there a particular neurotransmitter that causes a reaction from the hypothalmus to activate the hpa axis? i know that adrenaline is the end product ect...

As per LovesPhysics, there are believed to be multiple inputs that start the process, generally these are from higher cortical  and midbrain areas - particularly primary sensory cortices, limbic and hippocampus. Without going into the details, its a combination of inhibitory and excitatory inputs to the hypothalamus that trigger it.
It has been observed in some cases that the pupils and blood vessels begin responding to threats even before conscious awareness of the threat - an amygdala-to-limbic associated response.
Title: Re: Cortisol or Adrenaline in Fight or Flight Response?
Post by: katykins on September 23, 2012, 10:56:43 pm
sweet thanks! thats the answer i have been looking for :)