-Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are the hormones released from the adrenal medulla in response to stress.

-Epinephrine and norepinephrine act on many parts of the body to increase heart rate, breathing rate, and other processes to prepare the body for a response.

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

-Adrenal steroids are secreted by the adrenal cortex during a fear response.

-Consist of glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, and mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone.

-Adrenal steroids act more slowly than epinephrine and norepinephrine.

-Adrenal steroids are responsible for preparing the body for a response by releasing body stores of energy.

Adrenal Steroids

-The hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for "fight or flight" mechanisms.

-The sympathetic nervous system response includes the adrenal medulla, which releases the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.

-The alarm reaction also includes the hypothalamus activating the adrenal cortex to release adrenal steroids such as cortisol.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The alarm reaction consists of the hypothalamus activating multiple brain regions as an initial response to stress.

Multiple Stages of the Stress Response

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

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