PSA and the Brain
Nervous System Overview Model (A)
Above is an overview model of how the human nervous system is set up. In order to understand how brain functioning affects PSA, you will need to know a little background on the central, autonomic and sensory-somatic nervous system. The central nervous system(CNS) consists of the brain and spinal chord (see B). This nervous system tell the other two nervous systems what to do. Attached to the CNS is the Peripheral nervous system (see E) and this one is made up of both the autonomic and and sensory-somatic nervous systems. The sensory-somatic nervous system (SNS) takes information from the outside environment and sends it to the CNS. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) monitors what is goin on in the body and sends this information to the CNS (see C). The ANS is further subdivided into the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system handles the rest and digest functions that are not associated with anxiety reactions. The sympathetic nervous system handles the fight or flight mechanisms that cause are associated with anxiety reactions (see D).
System Interaction Model (C)
C.) Here is a model of how the CNS, ANS and SNS communicate with each other.
Autonomic Nervous System (D)
D.) Here is a model of the subdivision of the ANS into the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The parasympathetic side of the model shows the effects the parasympathetic system has on the bodily organs related to rest and digest mechanisms. The sympathetic side of the model shows the effects the sympathetic system has on the bodily organs related to the fight or flight mechanisms. The sympathetic nervous system is the one responsible for anxiety responses caused by the fight or flight mechanism.
The fight or flight mechanism kicks in when the CNS decides that the individual is in danger. This response is often reflexive and involuntary. You are experiencing the effects of this system every time you are nervous or scared.
Every person's brain reacts to certain situations a little differently because every one has a different temperament. A person's temperament is something they are born with and detrmines how strong of a nervous system they will have. Read on to Pavlovian Temperament to learn more.
The fight or flight mechanism kicks in when the CNS decides that the individual is in danger. This response is often reflexive and involuntary. You are experiencing the effects of this system every time you are nervous or scared.
Every person's brain reacts to certain situations a little differently because every one has a different temperament. A person's temperament is something they are born with and detrmines how strong of a nervous system they will have. Read on to Pavlovian Temperament to learn more.
Central Nervous System (B)
Nerves of the Peripheral Nervous System (E)
E.) The peripheral nervous system consists of all of the nerves, motor neurons and receptors, effectors (muscles and glands) and sensory neurons and receptors in the body. In the SNS, it is responsible for carrying messages to and from the CNS to the motor neurons, which then tell the muscles what to do. In the ANS, it is responsible for carrying messages to and from the CNS to the neurons, which then tell the organs what to do.
Learn more about the nervous system
Pavlovian Temperament
Ivan Pavlov's Pavlovian Temperament Theory comes from a study he did in which he measured the reactions of certain brain cells called cortical cells to stressful situations. From this study, he found that nervous systems fell into two main categories: weak and strong. If a person's nervous system was weak, their brain would not function the way it was supposed to when it was put in the stressful situations. The peoples' brains who had strong nervous systems continued to function properly throughout being exposed to the stressful situations.
When a person has a weak nervous system, their brain stops functioning when their fight or flight mechanism kicks in because they reach a certain level of stress. This means that the brain has gone into survival mode. For a person giving a presentation or speech, this means they are no longer capable of thinking about their presentation. This is because their body has perceived being in front of an audience as a threat (or stress) and is forcing that person to focus on how out get out of the situation. Of course, this comes in varying degrees from person to person but as you can see, the nervous system plays an important part in why people have PSA. This also provides support for the idea that PSA is cause by nature as opposed to nurture.
When a person has a weak nervous system, their brain stops functioning when their fight or flight mechanism kicks in because they reach a certain level of stress. This means that the brain has gone into survival mode. For a person giving a presentation or speech, this means they are no longer capable of thinking about their presentation. This is because their body has perceived being in front of an audience as a threat (or stress) and is forcing that person to focus on how out get out of the situation. Of course, this comes in varying degrees from person to person but as you can see, the nervous system plays an important part in why people have PSA. This also provides support for the idea that PSA is cause by nature as opposed to nurture.