![signal path think about your mind signal path think about your mind](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1k1NA.png)
In the context of the above example, the “flight” part of this response will increase your heart rate while slowing down digestion (so blood can be pumped FAST to your larger limbs so you can escape), will dilate your pupils (to let more light in so you can see better), and it will create a surge of adrenaline (which will give the body an instant burst of strength) so that you can drop that phone and jump out of the way of the speeding vehicle to survive!
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For instance, if you are crossing the street with your head buried in your phone and you hear a ‘honking’ of a horn and the screeching of car tyres and with your peripheral vision you notice a huge dark car-shaped object heading your way that is rapidly increasing in size as it gets closer, your Amygdala will likely sense “threat!” and will stimulate your hypothalamus to trigger a ‘fight-flight response’.įight-Flight Response (aka ‘fight-flight-freeze-appease’): This is a cascade of physiological activation designed to prepare you to survive. The amygdala is shaped like a little almond and lies deep in the brainstem in the limbic system, which consists of the hippocampus (responsible for memory), and the hypothalamus (which secretes hormones that regulate important bodily functions including the fight-flight response). The primary role of the Amygdalae (we actually have a pair of amygdala) lies with the processing of information in order determine whether or it needs to signal onwards to the limbic system that the brain needs to take action and do something.Īll information that you experience from your 5 senses (taste, touch, vision, smell, and hearing) passes through your Amygdala which sorts this information into either ‘threat’ or a ‘non-threat’. One of the most important parts of the brain in terms of the threat system is the Amygdala. Understanding the Threat System: The Amygdala Armed with a better understanding about ‘what’ your threat system is and what it is doing to your mind and body (and what you can do about it), you will have more choice regarding how you respond to difficult situations that involve threat! This page discusses the biological aspects behind what the threat system is, and provides an evolutionary explanations as to why it works the way it does, in the hope that you will come to understand: a) That it is not your fault that you have a threat system – it is how the brain is evolved for survival and, b) Why it is important to learn skills to soothe your threat system – from a biological and psychological perspective.
![signal path think about your mind signal path think about your mind](https://scienceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Stiff-vessels-low-blood-flow-in-the-brain-forewarn-of-dementia.jpg)
This typically happens when threat (or our sense of threat) is being created by our own perception and this is either happening without us knowing (due to undeveloped awareness) or is not being adequately addressed (due to a lack of understanding about the nature of the mind-body feedback loop, or low skill level in terms of ‘what’ to do about it). On the other hand, we may engage in self-criticism, or we may engage in avoidant or destructive patterns that make the situation worse for ourselves and others.Īlthough it is understandable that we would want to act to reduce and/or to protect ourselves from threats, when we let our threat systems dominate we are likely to act in ways that are disproportionate to the situation and this process will (often rapidly) get in our way. When it is not appropriate, the threat system can overwhelm us and can lead us to feeling Fearful, Angry, or Anxious. When it is appropriate, this is very useful – because in turn ensures the survival of the organism. It balances physiological and psychological needs while responding to the environment – all at the same time! But, when it perceives something as a potential threat, it triggers a cascade of neurophysiological activity that re-organises its resources and attention so that it can focus on keeping the organism (read: ‘YOU!’) safe. The brain is the body’s most complex organ.