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Title: Understanding the Mental Process of Thoughts and Emotions Author: Tim Birmingham
Chapter 3 Together the Brain and Spinal Cord make up the central nervous system. This is the control center, receiving incoming stimuli, interpretation of stimuli, and sending it out for action. The nervous system has basic functions.
The spinal cord is made up of neurons and cells extending from the bottom of the brain, it is protected by stacked set of ring shaped bones called vertebra. Nerves branch from the spin and connect to internal organs and body as a part of an intricate wiring system to send and receive information. The spines serves as a conduit and transfers information in form of electrical and chemical response through the voluntary and involuntary organs and muscles throughout the body. Neurons sends messages electrochemically, chemicals in the body cause an electrical impulse. This electrochemical charge then carries on, action is created after stimuli is received from the senses, filtered and associate through the brain and sent out through the spinal column to the necessary internal organs and muscles. Neurons are the carriers of information from the brain throughout the body. They are the carriers of action. In addition to carrying impulses to and from the brain, the spinal cord regulates reflexes. 1. A reflex is the simplest response to a stimulus. 2. Sneezing and Blinking are two examples of Reflexes. 3. A Reflex produces a rapid motor response to a stimulus because the Sensory Neuron Synapses directly with a motor neuron in the spinal cord. 4. Reflexes are very fast, and most reflexes never reach the brain for processing but are immediate in nature. 4. Blinking to protect your eyes from danger is a reflex.
Facts on Neurons It provides communication between and coordination of all organs and organ systems. The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons. There are about 13,500,00 neurons in the human spinal cord. Velocity of a signal transmitted through a neuron= 1.2 to 250 miles/hour.
More on the Nervous System The nervous system is has two major systems; CNS-central nervous system and PNS- peripheral nervous system. As previously discussed the central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord where information is processed. The peripheral nervous system is the extensive network of nerves throughout the body that allows signals to travel between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. EXAMPLE: To the muscles for action.
In realty preparedness it is imperative that one learns and understands one’s own input and response process. From the time input is received and processed this electro/chemical response is the primary energy that manifest itself and brings about the predominant response. One can learn all the tactics and skills in the world but when it comes to applying these is in accordance the mental command and control process, emotional energy can take control. When facing life or death options, one must understand and work in accordance to one’s internal echo; else the direction of energy is lost somewhere in the chaos. The Endocrine System and the Chemical Dump As neurons carry information along the nervous system certain glands in the endocrine system will be stimulated. Which gland and the degree of stimulation is directly related to the degree of alarm that has been interpreted by the brain. Chemicals are then secreted by the glandular system. A gland is defined as tissue or organ that secretes chemicals. As it relates to reality preparedness the focus will be on the hormones secretions that are injected directly into the blood stream. This is the function of the endocrine system.
The endocrine system includes the pituitary gland and adrenal gland as well as other glandular functions. The Pituitary Gland is a small gland located a the base of the brain that is referred to as the Master Gland because all glands depends on its secretions for stimulation.
The adrenal gland interacts with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It produces hormones to stimulate the pituitary gland and the pituitary gland produces hormones to stimulate the adrenal gland. This gland helps and participates in the stress response by secreting epinephrine (adrenaline) and nor epinephrine (nor adrenaline) and Cortisol. These hormones are secreted as a response to fear or anger, the heart rate increases and blood flow to major muscle groups are increased as determined by the fight and flight response. At the same time that blood flow is increased to the large muscle groups other organs and muscles experience a decrease in blood flow. This explain the extreme strength one experiences during an adrenal dump.This is the chemical stimulation that results in the Fight/Flight/Freeze (FFF) Response.
The Fight, Flight, Freeze (FFF) Response The fight flight response is the response that prepares the body for action under stress and danger. The adrenaline/nor adrenaline is pumping through your veins. Your heart is pounding and your breathing increases. Your body may shake. You now have the increased blood flow to the gross muscle groups and your strength is increased enough for the given threat. The analytical mind is shut down and all rational thought is non-existent. The human is responding to anything they perceive as threat or danger. This affect happens when your mind prepares your body for emergency action. The increased strength that comes from this response is a result of your mind shutting down non-essential functions such as the digestive system and the frontal part of the brain responsible for rational thought. By shutting down parts of the body other parts have access to the energy needed for the survival response. This is manifested in increase strength. EXAMPLE: The mother lifts the car off the child to save it's life. Just as the human body responds to threat with the fight and flight response another response is just a prominent in most people. This least talked about response is the freeze response. This is when the body receives and over abundance of hormones and the energy is not utilized by fighting or fleeing. The result is freezing or non action. It is common for a person to freeze in the midst of chaos and the fight and flight response happens but the mind does not allow the body to go into action causing a buildup and a stall in the process. One’s mind cannot cycle and determine a course of action. This is the most danger of all responses to high stress stimulus. The body is not able to dissipate the chemical surges and the body begins to attack itself and the downward spiral. When threat or danger presents itself there will be a response. This is the reaction that occurs in the body when faced by a sudden, unexpected threat, or source of stress. The name of this reaction comes from the fact that an animal experiencing this reaction almost immediately decides to fight, play dead (freeze) or to run. In this reaction there is a sudden release of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which increase blood flow to the muscles, increase arterial blood pressure, improve muscle strength and mental ability, as well as increase blood glucose concentration. Through these actions the body prepares for a confrontation or a fast escape. Also Known As: alarm reaction, sympathetic alarm reaction, stress reaction, sympathetic stress reaction.
Several hormones important to ones stress originates in the adrenal
glands. These glands are located adjacent to the kidneys. The
cortex or outer portion of the adrenal gland secretes steroidal
hormones including cortisol. In the presence of stressors; the body
almost immediately attempts to increase cortisol levels. Cortisol is
an essential fight-or-flight hormone, secreted under stress, to
prepare the body for action. Some researcher believe that
pro-long stimulation to cortisol leads to PTSD Post Traumatic Stress
Syndrome and can lead to a wide range of health problems. |
