The Biology of Stress

About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about the biological underpinnings of stress, focusing in particular on: (i) the evolutionary fight or flight response, which can be triggered in stressful and unfamiliar situations; (ii) the acute stress response, triggering the sympathomedullary pathway; (iii) the role of the hypothalamus in activating the autonomic nervous system in the event of exposure to stress; (iv) the role of the adrenal gland, divided into the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla; (v) the biological responses, including increased heart rate and glycogen conversion in the liver, triggered by the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline; (vi) the ‘rest and digest’ response triggered by the parasympathetic nervous system, once the acute stressor is no longer a threat; (vii) the chronic stress response, via the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) system.

About the lecturer

Dr Shanti Shanker is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Bournemouth University. Dr Shanker’s research interests are in the translation of empirical and cognitive research findings to clinical and counselling applications, using behavioural and neuropsychological approaches. Some of Dr Shanker’s recent publications include 'Stuck in a Moment: Concreteness and psychotherapy after acquired brain injury' (2013) and 'Characterizing cognitive deficits and dementia in an aging urban population in India' (2012).