Module 2 – Case
CHRONIC STRESS AND
BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE
Assignment Overview
Note: If you have trouble viewing some of the course
materials, install Quicktime and the Adobe Shockwave Player, both of which can
be downloaded free from the Internet.
STOP! BEFORE YOU PROCEED, YOU MUST HAVE READ THE HOME PAGE
AND VIEWED ALL LINKS AND TUTORIALS! You will need this information to complete
this Case Assignment.
Cortisol is an important hormone that is released in the
stress response. In this module assignment, we will look at this hormone more
closely to investigate:
The molecular composition of cortisol
The signaling pathway that elicits the production and
release of cortisol
The cellular-, organ-, and organ system-level response that
results from this cell signal
Case Assignment
Read the following articles:
The Mind-Body Interaction in Disease. Sternberg, E. &
Gold, P., 2002. Scientific American. p.
1-8
The Relationship between Traumatic Stress, PTSD and
Cortisol. Delaney, E. Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control.
After reading these articles, develop a 10– to 15-slide
presentation in the following format.
The following links are helpful guides on using PowerPoint.
PowerPoint 101: Everything You Need to Make a Basic
Presentation (this resource is great for both Mac and PC users):
http://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/powerpoint-101-everything-you-need-to-make-a-basic-presentation–cms-19541
The Microsoft Office link below has several tutorials on
PowerPoint from how to get started to additional techniques for advanced users:
PowerPoint Links
Slides 1 and 2: Include a title slide with your name, course
number (ANT100) and date. Illustrate the cascade of hormonal signals described
in this video link. You will be illustrating the HPA axis of feedback among the
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, kidney, and adrenal glands. You may include
images of organs from the web and use arrows, simple ovals or circles and text
boxes to help illustrate the stress response (it does not have to be artistic,
just an accurate description of the organs and hormones involved). Use simple
images to depict the organs that release these hormones in the cascade that
results in the release of cortisol. Label the hormones and organs involved
using circles, ovals, or textboxes. Give your slide a title such as
“Neurochemistry of Stress”. Briefly describe the feedback mechanism occurring
in your diagram.
Slides 3 and 4: Find images of a kidney and adrenal gland
from the web. You may reuse the same ones from the previous slides if the
appropriate areas are shown. Label and diagram areas of the kidney and adrenal
gland using arrows, circles, and/or text boxes, including the following
information:
Adrenal gland: cortex and medulla; regions associated with
hormone production and release; label the hormones released in each region
Kidney: cortex and medulla; region of water absorption and
filtering; region of urine collection
Briefly describe the function of the hormones released by
the adrenal gland. Be sure to give your slides titles such as “Adrenal Gland
and its Hormones” or “Kidney Structure and Function”.
Slide 5: Diagram and label the HPA axis. One of your images
should include a view of the hippocampus of the brain. Include the hormones
released by each component and their effect on the target organ(s). Give your
slide a descriptive title.
Slide 6: Using your diagram from Slide 5, include the
location of the hippocampus and the negative feedback loop that occurs when the
hippocampus detects high cortisol levels. In your description, summarize the
effects associated with elevated cortisol exposure to the hippocampus. Give
your slide a descriptive title.
Slide 7: Using bulleted points, list factors that exacerbate
the stress response through activation of the HPA axis. Give your slide a
descriptive title.
Slide 8–10: Do some additional research on post-traumatic
stress syndrome (PTSD). Find an image of the brain and label the regions
believed to be involved with symptoms of PTSD. In a separate slide, explain the
relationship between PTSD and depression discussing the relevant regions of the
brain you labeled in your image. Give your slide a descriptive title.
Slides 11–13: In bulleted points, summarize the varied
findings in the studies described in the article, “The Relationship between
Traumatic Stress, PTSD and Cortisol.” In your summary, include the
relationships found between cortisol levels and individuals with PTSD. In your
summary, include some explanations from the article for the variability in
cortisol levels in these individuals. Give your slide a descriptive title.
Slides 14 and 15: Include a references-cited slide and any
additional notes if necessary. Title your slide “References”.
Assignment Expectations
For this Case Assignment, you will develop a PowerPoint
presentation that is approximately 15 slides in length and addresses the
requirements outlined above. Place the text containing the answers to the
questions above in the slide area, or you may use the notes section of your
slide presentation as well if needed. Do a Google search that includes the term
“image” to find diagrams of the required organs and systems (e.g., search for
“adrenal gland image”). Find simple images that allow you to do your own
labeling, but that do not complete the assignment for you. Be sure your last
slide is a references slide that contains the full references cited on your
slides. Many resources are provided for you. Include these in your references
section.
Module 2 – SLP
CHRONIC STRESS AND
BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE
Note: If you have trouble viewing some of the course
materials, install Quicktime and the Adobe Shockwave Player, both of which can
be downloaded free online at http://www.adobe.com/products/shockwaveplayer.html
& https://support.apple.com/downloads/quicktime)
Continue your investigation of the effects of stress on
brain function and behavior. Read more about the hippocampus, amygdala, and
prefrontal cortex in these articles:
“How to Prevent Stress from Shrinking Your Brain” in
Psychology Today
“Stress Effects on Structure and Function of Hippocampus,”
by the Rockefeller University
Instructions: Answer the following questions in paragraph
format to write an essay about the findings reported by these articles:
Introduction Paragraph:
First, do some research on how the amygdala, hippocampus,
and prefrontal cortex communicate and result in normal behavioral response. You
will begin your reading on the amygdala by following the previous link. After
reading this section, click on the following link: several other structures in
the brain to read about the interactions between these three regions. Briefly
describe this pathway and the behavior that results from the interaction of
these regions, using 2-3 sentences. This will help you to introduce the content
that you will address in the sections below.
Body Paragraph 1
Summarize the effects of glucocorticoids on the hippocampus
and prefrontal cortex reported in the article How to Prevent Stress from
Shrinking Your Brain.
Body Paragraphs 2 and 3
What effect on hippocampal cells have stress hormones had in
recent studies described by Stress Effects on Structure and Function of
Hippocampus? What effect have they had on the amygdala in studies? What are the
implications of these effects? HINT: What are the functions of the regions and
how might they be affected by changes in their structure?
Body Paragraph 4
What is neurogenesis and where does it occur in the brain?
What effect on the regeneration of hippocampal cells is reported in the
previous article? What is the mechanism?
Conclusion Paragraph 1
Summarize the effects of cortisol on this pathway by describing
how PTSD can result from perpetuated cortisol release and how this can result
in depression by activating and/or reinforcing depression pathways.
Conclusion Paragraph 2
Describe the methods proposed to counteract the negative
effects of chronic stress in How to Prevent Stress from Shrinking Your Brain.
SLP Assignment Expectations
For this assignment, write an essay using the outline above.
You are provided with many scholarly references to complete this assignment.
Use APA formatting for your sources and include a References section that lists
these and any additional sources you used. For any additional research you are
required to do to complete your assignment, please use scholarly references
such as a peer-reviewed journal article or a government-sponsored or
university-sponsored website. As you read through your sources, take notes and
then write your paper in your own words, describing what you have learned from
your research. Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by
quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for
example (Murray, 2014). Direct copying from “homework help” websites will not
receive credit.
ScholarMatic: Explanation & Answer
Your ready answer from a verified tutor is just a click away for as little as $14.99
Click Order Now to get 100% Original Answer Customized to your instructions!
