1. BODILY RESPONSE TO STRESS
The immune system

2. RECAP
ACUTE STRESS RESPONSE
CHRONIC STRESS RESPONSE

3. Place the terms in the correct column
SAM
HYPOTHALAMUS
HPA
PITUITARY GLAND
ANS (SYMPATHETIC)
ACTH
ADRENAL MEDULLA
PROTEINS & FATS MADE AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY
ADRENAL CORTEX
ADRENALINE
CORTISOL
FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE (INC GLUCOSE RELEASED INTO BLOODSTREAM)
ACUTE STRESSOR IDENTIFIED
CHRONIC (ONGOING) STRESSOR PERSISTS

4. Place the terms in the correct column
SAM
HYPOTHALAMUS
HPA
Acute Stressor indentified
PITUITARY GLAND
Hypothalamus
ANS (SYMPATHETIC)
ANS
ACTH
Adrenal medulla
ADRENAL MEDULLA
Adrenaline released
PROTEINS & FATS MADE AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY
Fight or flight response…
ADRENAL CORTEX
ADRENALINE RELAEASED
CORTISOL RELEASED
FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE (INC GLUCOSE RELEASED INTO BLOODSTREAM)
ACUTE STRESSOR IDENTIFIED
CHRONIC (ONGOING) STRESSOR PERSISTS

5. Place the terms in the correct column
SAM
HYPOTHALAMUS
HPA
Acute Stressor indentified
PITUITARY GLAND
Chronic (ongoing stressor persists)
Hypothalamus
ANS (SYMPATHETIC)
ANS
ACTH
Pituitary gland
Adrenal medulla
ADRENAL MEDULLA
Adrenaline released
PROTEINS & FATS MADE AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY
Adrenal cortex
Fight or flight response…
ADRENAL CORTEX
Cortisol released
ADRENALINE RELAEASED
Proteins & fats made available for energy
CORTISOL RELEASED
FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE (INC GLUCOSE RELEASED INTO BLOODSTREAM)
ACUTE STRESSOR IDENTIFIED
CHRONIC (ONGOING) STRESSOR PERSISTS

6. The immune system White blood cells (leucocytes)
produced in the spleen, lymph nodes, thymus
(T cells) & bone marrow (B cells)
Three main types are
Granulocytes & monocytes which (ingest bacteria & viruses)
Lymphocytes, including for example B lymphocytes which produce antibodies, beginning the process of destroying the antigen

7. How does stress affect the immune response
Corticosteroids (including cortisol) cause proteins to be converted into energy to maintain the supply in times of chronic stress
This reduces the production of leucocytes, so stress makes us less able to fight off infections
Various infectious illnesses have been linked to stressful events including influenza & herpes

8. Research evidence Riley (1981) Study 1
Put mice on a rotating turntable AT 45 rpm
Lymphocyte count decreased over a 5-hour period
Study 2
Implanted cancer cells in 2 groups of mice
Group 1 had 10 mins x 3 times per hour on the turntable for 3 days
Group 2 had no rotation
Mice in group 1 developed large tumours
Mice in group 2 had no tumour growth

9. Research evidence Kiecolt-Glaser 1995 Study 1
Group A = women with high stress (caring for relatives with Alzheimer’s disease)
Group B = a ‘stress-free’ control group
All participants were given a small wound on their forearms
It took 9 days longer on average for wounds to heal for women in the high stress group
Study 2
Took blood samples from 75 first year medical students (volunteer sample), one month before exams and then again on the first day of their exams. Blood samples analysed for killer T-cell activity
Killer T-cell activity was greatly reduced in the second sample.
Weakest immune responses were found in students who reported: 1. feeling most lonely, 2. experiencing stressful life events, 3. experiencing psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

10. Over to you
Outline the conclusion you can draw from the Reily & Kiecolt- Glaser studies
Evaluate the studies:
Consider the methods used. Would you criticise (positive or negative) the procedure in any way?
How confident are you that the findings demonstrate a link between stress and loss of immune function in humans? Could you interpret the findings any differently?
Consider ethical issues in the studies