What is the fight or flight response?

An acute stress response that prepares the body to either confront or escape from a perceived threat.

If a person suddenly encounters a dangerous animal, explain the sequence from perception to adrenaline release.

The amygdala detects the threat and signals the hypothalamus, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Which branch of the autonomic nervous system does the hypothalamus activate during the fight or flight response?

The sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

What is adrenaline and where is it released from?

Adrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenal medulla during the fight or flight response.

AQA A-Level Psychology 7182

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Biopsychology

The fight or flight response

3 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

The sequence from perceiving a threat to adrenaline release, the physiological changes that prepare the body for action, and why the response is adaptive.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Process

Outline the sequence from perceiving a threat to adrenaline release.

Process

What physiological changes prepare the body for action?

Evaluation

Why is the fight or flight response considered adaptive?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the fight or flight response?
Model answer
An acute stress response that prepares the body to either confront or escape from a perceived threat.
2
Which brain structure initiates the fight or flight response once a stressor is perceived?
Model answer
The hypothalamus.
3
If a person suddenly encounters a dangerous animal, explain the sequence from perception to adrenaline release.
Model answer
The amygdala detects the threat and signals the hypothalamus, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream.
4
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system does the hypothalamus activate during the fight or flight response?
Model answer
The sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
5
What does the sympathetic nervous system stimulate to release adrenaline during fight or flight?
Model answer
The adrenal medulla.
6
What is adrenaline and where is it released from?
Model answer
Adrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenal medulla during the fight or flight response.

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