The Physiology of Stress

About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about the physiology of stress, focusing in particular on: (i) recognising that a stressor takes the body out of its default state of homeostasis, requiring it to return to that state once the stressor has passed – a process Hans Selye coined as General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS); (ii) the two stress response systems being the fast sympathetic adrenomedullary system (SAM) and the slow hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis; (iii) the biological steps in each of these systems, the functional outcomes for the body, and how those outcomes tie into the stress response being referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ response; (iv) the negative outcomes of chronic stress, including immune function suppression, increased blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels, arterial plaque build-up, and engagement with unhealthy behaviours e.g., smoking and overeating.

About the lecturer

Dr Livia Tomova is a research associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, with an interest in how stress, loneliness and social isolation affect the brain and mind. Dr Tomova’s current research focuses on biological markers indicating vulnerability to the effects of isolation and loneliness in adolescents and young adults. Some of Dr Tomova’s recent publications include 'The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health' (2020) and 'Acute stress alters neural patterns of value representation for others' (2020).