I Can Procrastinate While Studying at the Same Time...

So lately, I've been really obsessed with posting blog entries, as you can see from my blog archive. The frequency of posts becomes highly saturated in the month of October. This is a bad thing, for now, because I have a fair number of midterm exams coming up.

However, I just found this passage of my Abnormal Psychology textbook so fascinating that I wanted to share it with you. I love learning about how such simple actions work, and learning how it only seems simple on the outside but is actually quite complex.

For example, what exactly goes on backstage, physiologically, when we react to danger and stress? 

So a little backgrond: this is due to the responsibility of our peripheral nervous system, which coordinates with the brain stem to make sure that our bodies are working right. One of the two major components of the this nervous system is the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The primary function of the ANS is to regulate the cardiovascular system. The ANS is then further divvied up into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). 

Ok let's get to the roles they play in our context.

The SNS is responsible for:

• mobilizing the body in the face of danger/stress
• by rapidly activating organs under its control
• when SNS is on alert:
• heart beats faster, increasing flow of blood to muscles
• breathing increases, providing more oxygen to the blood and brain
• adrenal glands are stimulated

These changes help mobilize us for action. If we're threatened by immediate danger, this system enables us to run faster or defend ourselves with greater strength. This is why most of you have probably read about people lifting cars and stuff. Or maybe you are more familiar with the Simpsons episode where little Maggie Simpson saves Homer from drowning.

SNS vs PNS

Lastly, but importantly, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in when the SNS has had enough and balances the SNS. The PNS normalizes arousal and facilitates the storage of energy by helping the digestive process.  Basically, the function of the PNS is to stabilize us because we can't operate in a state of hyperarousal and preparedness forever.

So hopefully that post wasn't too boring haha. I need my dose of blogging... and studying! Good luck to all you who have exams coming up as well!

SL.

References: Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach by Barlow, Durand, and Stewart.