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Psychophysiology of Stress and Relaxation

By: Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, May 2009

Take it easy.
Various studies show that 65%-80% 65% 80% of all doctor visits have stress as a significant component
heart disease chronic fatigue anxiety attacks mood swings psychological distress depression sleep problems high blood pressure eating disorders peptic ulcers poor immune function chronic pain colds flu viruses headaches migraines alcoholism smoking-related smokingrespiratory aliments
Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Perception

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

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Awareness

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Expectation

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

What is Stress?
A negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable: biochemical, physiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes that are directed either towards altering the stressful event or accommodating to its effects.
Baum, 1990
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What is Stress?
1. Emotional aspect 2. Physiological aspect 3. Behavioural aspect

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Sources of Stress

Physical
Actual physical ill-health or harm ill-

Psychological
Anticipation of physical harm Anticipation of damage to self-esteem, selfsocial standing, important relationships

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Stress response
Aversive stimuli can elicit emotional
responses:
Behavioral component: Fight or Flight
response

Autonomic component: Sympathetic

activation

Endocrine component: secretion of

epinephrine, NE

Level of Stress is determined by personpersonenvironment fit:

Depends upon how an event is appraised, and whether the person perceives themselves as possessing the resources needed to respond to the event successfully.
Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

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Parts of the Nervous System

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Parts of Nervous System

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Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Parts of Nervous System

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Autonomous Nervous System

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

The Autonomic Nervous System

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Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Autonomic Nervous System Branches

Parasympathetic
Rest & Digest Resting Homeostasis Brakes Point to point

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Sympathetic
Fight or Flight Stress Responder Accelerator Systemic Fire Alarm

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

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The Autonomic Nervous System

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The Autonomic Nervous System

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The Autonomic Nervous System

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The Autonomic Nervous System

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Central Autonomic Centers

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Hypothalamus

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Hypothalamus
Shivering Water balance

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Blood Pressure Body Temperature Satiety Feeding

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Autonomic neural pathways

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Visceral Reflex

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Homeostasis

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Physiology of Stress Response

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Emotional Brain
Thalamus Cortex Hyppocampus

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Amygdala

1 2
Hypothalamus Cerebellum Medulla

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The Brain and the Stress Response

1. 2.
A sensory nerve registers a stressful message. The message arrives to thalamus and from there to the cortex (for mental processing) and to the limbic system (for emotional assessment). assessment). The thalamus then stimulates the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus, in turn, activates the endocrine system and the sympathetic nervous system. This action is what initiates the stress reactivity.
Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

3. 4.

Stress Response

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a
HYPAC axis

b 1

a 2

SAM system

b c c

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Stress Response
a b 1 c b 2 a

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Physiology of Stress Response

1. HYPAC activation of leading to release of stress hormones (cortisol) cortisol) 2. SAM activation which increases release of norepinephrine and epinephrine

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Parasympathetic : The Polyvagal Theory

Two branches of the vagus for different adaptive behavioral strategies (facial expression, vocalization, listening, muscular posture) Mobilization system: promotes calm system: behavioral states by inhibiting the sympathetic (fight-flight), Based on (fightmodern mammal myelinated fibers. Immobilization system that produce a behavioral shut down (e.g., feigning death, vaso- vagal syncope, vasoetc. Based on phylo-genetically phyloprimitive system (unmyelinated (unmyelinated fibersor as in other vertebrates. Triune Autonomic Nervous System by John Chitty

Short term effects of Stress

Release of Catecholamines: Catecholamines:

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Increase cardiovascular response Increase respiration Increase perspiration

Release of Corticosteroids:

Increase access to energy storage Increase of Protein and Fat mobilization Decrease inflammation
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Long term effects of chronic stress

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Adrenal exhaustion High blood pressure (--> stroke, heart attacks) (--> Loss of neurons in brain (e.g. hippocampal field CA1) CA1 Suppression of the immune system (--> illness) (--> Suppression of the inflammatory system (delays healing) Prolonged excess glucose availability --> diabetes -->
Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Anxiety Disorders
(dysfunction in normal regulatory mechanisms for stress)
Panic disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Post traumatic stress disorder Phobias Generalized Anxiety Disorder Collectively, effect 10-15% of population. 10-15%
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Stress can be studied by measuring the stress hormone cortisol Cortisone can be measured in small samples of childrens saliva Children dip cotton dental rolls in a few grains of sweet crystals and lick off the sweet taste Like dip stick candy

Courtesy of the Erikson Institute, Chicago

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Coping Babysitters Who were:

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Sensitive and Responsive

Cold and Distant

Dr. Ernesto Sh. Korenman, 2008

Sensitive/Response Care by Babysitters Buffers Babysitters Stress Hormones in 9-month-olds month-

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0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1

High

Low
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Sensitive/Responsive Care

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The End

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