__neural pathway__

comprises one or more circuits of interconnected neurons that form a communication network.

Spinal Cord

Column of nerve fibres that extend from the base of the brain to lower back, encased in bones called the vertebrae.

Sympathetic NS

__increasing__ the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands in times of vigorous activity, stress or threat.

Parasympathetic NS

__decreasing__ the activity of most visceral muscles, organs and glands, and restoring body functioning to its normal state.

Reflex

A reflex is an unconscious, automatic involuntary reaction to a stimulus that occurs in the __same way__ each time.

Spinal Reflex

An unconscious, involuntary and automatically occurring response to certain stimuli occurring within the spinal cord __without any involvement of the brain__.

__Reflex arc__

incoming stimulus is automatically ‘reflected back’ from the spinal cord without any initial input from the brain and before the brain processes a conscious perception of the stimulus.

Afferent

carries information from the internal and external environment to the CNS.

Efferent (effect)

carries impulses away from the CNS to muscles or glands to contract or relax, producing movement.

Neurotransmitters

A chemical substance produced by a neuron that carries a message to other neurons or cells in muscles, organs or other tissue.

__Excitatory effect__

stimulate or activate postsynaptic neurons to perform their functions.

__Inhibitory effect__

block or prevent postsynaptic neurons from firing.

**Synaptic plasticity**

the ability of synaptic connections to change over time, including the formation, strengthening and weakening of neural connections, in response to activity or experience

**Sprouting**

ability of dendrites or axons to develop new extensions or branches

**Rerouting**

ability of a neuron that is connected to a damaged neuron to create an alternative synaptic connection with an undamaged neuron

**Pruning**

elimination of weak, ineffective or unused synapses (and therefore connections to other neurons)

**Memory traces**

neural pathways that form during learning, with each memory trace representing a different memory.

**Long-term potentiation (LTP)**

the __long-lasting__ and __experience-dependent__ __strengthening__ of synaptic connections that are __regularly coactivated__

**Long-term depression (LTD)**

long-lasting and experience-dependent __weakening__ of synaptic connections between neurons that are __not__ regularly __coactivated__

__**Stressors**__ 

**are stimuli that causes or produces stress and challenges our ability to cope.**

__**Stress**__

**a state of physiological (‘biological’) and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope.**

__**Internal stressors**__

**originate within the individual.**

__**External stressors**__

**originate outside the individual from situations and events in the environment.**

__**Eustress**__

**A positive psychological response to a stressor as indicated by the presence of positive psychological states such as feeling excited, alert and motivated.**

__**Distress**__

**A negative psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension.**

**Gut microbiota**

**all of the microorganisms that live in the gut (bacteria, fungi, viruses)**

**Gut microbiome**

all of the __genes__ of the microorganisms that live in the gut

**Gut-brain axis (GBA)**

__bidirectional__ (‘two-way’), multi-faceted communication link between the central and __enteric__ nervous systems

**Enteric nervous system**

network of nerves in the gut and is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that communicate with the nerves in the CNS

**Vagus nerve**

longest cranial nerve that connects the gut and the brain, enabling them to communicate

**Benign- Positive**

the stimulus is perceived as __neutral or positive__ and so will __not cause stress.__

**Irrelevant**

the stimulus is perceived as __not presenting an issue or worry__ and __so will not cause stress.__

**Stressful**

the stimulus will __worry or force the individual to respond in some way,__ and so is interpreted as being a __stressor.__

**Harm/loss**

The stressor is perceived as already having caused some damage to the individual. (__distress__)

**Threat**

The stressor is perceived as potentially causing damage to the individual. (__distress__)

**Challenge**

The stressor is perceived as potentially providing a good opportunity for change or growth, though will be difficult. (__eustress__)

**Coping**

is the process of dealing with a stressor.

**Emotion-focused coping**

strategies that target the emotional components of a stressor, deals indirectly with the stressor.

**Problem-focused coping**

strategies that directly target the stressor, aims to reduce in a practical way.

__**Coping**__

describes all the different things we do to __manage and reduce the stress__ experienced as a result of problems, issues or difficult situations that arise in life. It is an attempt to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way. These attempts usually involve one or more coping strategies.

__**Coping Strategy**__

a specific method, behavioural or psychological, used to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor.

__**Context-specific effectiveness**__

**is when a coping strategy or method is said to be suitable (effective) for dealing with the stressful situation (context).**

__**Coping flexibility**__

the ability to effectively __modify or adjust__ one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.

*High coping flexibility*

*adjust their coping strategies if a particular strategy they are using is proving to be ineffective.* 

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*Low coping flexibility*

consistently use the same type of coping strategies across different stressful situations, and persist in their use of the coping strategies they deploy, even in the face of ineffectiveness.

__**Exercise**__

**physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition.**