Lesson 4.3.7.1

4.3.7.1 The physiology of stress Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

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Lesson 4.3.7.1, The physiology of stress: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Psychology (7182), Unit 3: Issues and options in Psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What are the three stages of Selye's general adaptation syndrome in order?

    • Alarm, resistance, exhaustion
    • Resistance, alarm, recovery
    • Alarm, recovery, dormancy
    • Exhaustion, alarm, resistance

  2. In the general adaptation syndrome, what happens during the exhaustion stage?

    • Prolonged stress depletes the body's resources, making the person vulnerable to illness
    • The body returns fully to normal functioning as the stressor is removed
    • The body becomes resistant to all future stressors and cannot be damaged
    • The body releases large amounts of adrenaline that cause immediate recovery

  3. Which system is described as the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system?

    • A nervous pathway in which the hypothalamus directly activates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the blood during a sudden threat
    • A pathway in which the pituitary releases adrenaline directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the hypothalamus entirely during any stressful event
    • A hormonal pathway in which the hypothalamus triggers the pituitary to release ACTH, which stimulates cortisol release from the adrenal cortex
    • A reflex pathway in which the spinal cord controls heart rate during a fight, so that the body responds to danger without any input from the brain

  4. What is the role of cortisol in the stress response?

    • It raises blood glucose and supports energy availability during prolonged stress
    • It constricts the pupils and shuts down the digestive system within moments
    • It lowers blood glucose quickly and produces an immediate fight or flight response
    • It stimulates the heart to beat faster within a few seconds of a stressor

  5. Which pathway produces the fast fight-or-flight response to a stressor?

    • The general adaptation pathway
    • The sympathomedullary pathway
    • The hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal pathway
    • The cortisol feedback loop

  6. In the sympathomedullary pathway, what is released from the adrenal medulla?

    • Insulin and glucagon
    • ACTH and oxytocin
    • Adrenaline and noradrenaline
    • Cortisol and aldosterone

  7. A runner is chased by a dog and her heart rate increases within seconds. Which pathway is most likely responsible for this immediate response?

    • The HPA system acting through cortisol release over several hours
    • The exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome
    • The resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome
    • The sympathomedullary pathway

  8. A student has been under chronic exam stress for several weeks and now has frequent colds. Which stage of the general adaptation syndrome best explains this?

    • The recovery stage, in which the body returns quickly to its normal state
    • The resistance stage, in which the body adapts fully and is protected from illness
    • The alarm stage, in which the body first mobilises to deal with the stressor
    • The exhaustion stage, in which prolonged stress depletes resources and increases illness

  9. Which evaluation point applies to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

    • It was developed from a large sample of human participants in a double-blind trial
    • It has been tested extensively in humans and found to be completely accurate in every detail
    • It has been shown to apply only to stressors that are psychological rather than physical
    • It was based largely on animal research, so generalising its stages to humans needs caution

  10. Which pathway involves the release of cortisol?

    • The sympathetic reflex arc
    • The parasympathetic brake pathway
    • The hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system
    • The sympathomedullary pathway

  11. A researcher measures cortisol after a stressful task and finds it stays high for an extended period. Which pathway is most likely driving this?

    • The alarm reaction of the sympathetic nervous system alone
    • The HPA system, which produces cortisol over a longer timescale
    • The sympathomedullary pathway, which produces only very brief responses lasting seconds
    • The parasympathetic brake, which lowers cortisol immediately after the task

  12. Which statement describes a difference between the sympathomedullary pathway and the HPA system?

    • The sympathomedullary pathway is slower and uses cortisol, whereas the HPA system is faster and uses adrenaline
    • Both pathways are slow and both release only insulin in response to a stressor
    • The sympathomedullary pathway is faster and uses adrenaline, whereas the HPA system is slower and uses cortisol
    • Both pathways are equally fast and both release only adrenaline into the blood

  13. Which best explains why prolonged cortisol release can be harmful?

    • It stops the heart from beating, which causes an immediate collapse
    • It suppresses immune function and can contribute to cardiovascular problems over time
    • It reduces blood glucose so that the brain loses all its energy supply
    • It strengthens immune function and speeds up healing in all tissues

  14. In the general adaptation syndrome, what happens during the resistance stage?

    • The body shuts down all systems and stops responding to the stressor altogether
    • The body adapts to the stressor, maintaining high arousal while resources are still available
    • The body fully recovers in seconds and stress hormones return to baseline immediately
    • The body releases cortisol only after the stressor has already ended

  15. A patient has had an adrenal gland disorder that prevents cortisol release. Which change would be expected in their response to a long-term stressor?

    • A reduced ability to sustain blood glucose and energy during prolonged stress
    • No change, since cortisol has no role in the stress response of humans
    • A faster return of adrenaline to baseline, which removes all stress effects
    • An increased ability to fight infections because the immune system is no longer suppressed

  16. Which of the following is a feature of the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

    • The body's defences are depleted and it becomes vulnerable to illness
    • The sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body prepares to respond to the threat
    • The body releases only insulin, which lowers blood glucose after the threat ends
    • The body remains in a stable state with no change in heart rate or breathing

  17. Which hormone is produced by the adrenal medulla in the sympathomedullary pathway and increases heart rate?

    • Cortisol
    • Adrenaline
    • Ghrelin
    • Insulin

  18. A student says that the HPA system and the sympathomedullary pathway work separately and never interact. Which response is most accurate?

    • Both pathways are activated together in response to a stressor, with different speeds and hormones
    • The two pathways never occur in the same person, since they are mutually exclusive
    • Only the sympathomedullary pathway is activated, and the HPA system has no role in stress
    • Only the HPA system is activated by stress, and the sympathomedullary pathway is never involved

  19. Which of the following would be a reasonable prediction from the general adaptation syndrome?

    • Stress has no effect on illness, so repeated exposure carries no risk at any time
    • Repeated exposure to a stressor will always make the body more resistant without any cost
    • A single brief stressor will cause long-term exhaustion more than repeated exposure does
    • Repeated exposure to a stressor over months may lead to greater risk of illness than a single brief exposure

  20. A patient's stress response is slow to switch off after a long shift. Which pathway is most likely still active?

    • The alarm reaction of the parasympathetic system, which slows the heart and so ends the stress response quickly
    • The sympathomedullary pathway, which switches off within seconds once the stressor has passed the person
    • The reflex arc of the spinal cord, which controls the knee-jerk response to a sudden touch on the leg
    • The HPA system, which keeps cortisol elevated for longer than the fast sympathetic response

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