The Dynamics of Fear Response
“Fear is a chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with a release of chemicals.” (Layton, 2010) Fear is a response given out from the brain. The brain is part of the Central Nervous System. It has many different parts that work together to do day to day things, even when you sleep. Fear is an emotion that the brain signals out in case of any potential danger. (Serendip, 2002) There will be an outside stimulus that we are afraid of. Fear maybe different, but the reactions in the brain are the same throughout. (Fritscher, 2008) No one person can trigger fear volunatrily, it’s autonomic. A person doesn’t know that they are scared until it’s over.
The Autonomic Nervous System is a complex system that incorperates nerves and ganglia. (Dictionary.com) This system supplies blood vessels, heart, smooth muscles, viscera, and glands. It also controls the involuntary functions of all these parts. (Dictionary.com) The Autonomic Nervous System plays a major role in fear response. The Autonomic Nervous System helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. It also helps adjust and adapt to the environment in stressful situations. There are three different respnses:biochemical, emotional, and physical responses. (Fritscher, 2008) The biochemical response is universeral and the same throughout. The emotional response is highly individualized. (Fritscher, 2008) The physcial response includes: sweating heart rate increase, high adrenaline levels, “fight or flight” response, or even evolutionary development.
The brain is one of two parts of the Central Nervous System. The brain and the spinal cord functions to be the control center. (Marieb, 2008) The brain maight be the “Head Honcho” but there are smaller parts that make the brain this way. Some of the smaller parts are the: thalamus, hypothalamus, sensory cortex, hippocampus, and the amygdala.
The thalamus is one of the first parts of the fear
The Autonomic Nervous System is a complex system that incorperates nerves and ganglia. (Dictionary.com) This system supplies blood vessels, heart, smooth muscles, viscera, and glands. It also controls the involuntary functions of all these parts. (Dictionary.com) The Autonomic Nervous System plays a major role in fear response. The Autonomic Nervous System helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. It also helps adjust and adapt to the environment in stressful situations. There are three different respnses:biochemical, emotional, and physical responses. (Fritscher, 2008) The biochemical response is universeral and the same throughout. The emotional response is highly individualized. (Fritscher, 2008) The physcial response includes: sweating heart rate increase, high adrenaline levels, “fight or flight” response, or even evolutionary development.
The brain is one of two parts of the Central Nervous System. The brain and the spinal cord functions to be the control center. (Marieb, 2008) The brain maight be the “Head Honcho” but there are smaller parts that make the brain this way. Some of the smaller parts are the: thalamus, hypothalamus, sensory cortex, hippocampus, and the amygdala.
The thalamus is one of the first parts of the fear
Cited: Cahhon, Walter. (1932). Physical changes. Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/brain/fight_flight.html Fritscher, Lisa. (2009). The psychology of fear. Retrieved from http://phobias.about.com/od/introductiontophobias/a/psychologyfear.html Layton, Julia. (2010). How fear works. Retrieved from http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/other-emothions/fear.html Marieb, Elaine, & Hoehn, Katja. (2008). Anatomy and physiology. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. TH Nemours Foundation, Initials. (2010). Fear response. Retrieved from http://Kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/phobias.html