The fight or flight response is controlled by the amygdala, which is located in both hemispheres of the brain, within the temporal lobes. When you sense a threat or are fearful, this sets off the amygdala, which then sets off the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). The following diagram illustrates how the amygdala […]
How are phobias caused biologically?
Phobias (also known as specific phobia) are triggered by a stressful or fearful experience or object. This fearful sensory input is then sent to the amygdala (the fear processing center of the brain), where it ‘remembers’ the fearful stimulus. The activated amygdala also starts the cascade known as the fight or flight response, where the sympathetic […]
Panic Attacks- a Neural and Biochemical Response
A panic attack is a severe manifestation of the fight or flight response, which has both a neural response (sympathetic nervous system response) and biochemical response (hormonal response). The fight or flight response is illustrated in the following flowchart: So with a panic attack, it can be triggered by a change in your body, such as increased […]