The fight-or-flight response (also called hyperarousal, or the acute stress response) is a

physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to
survival.
Animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, preparing
the animal for fighting or fleeing.
More specifically, the adrenal medulla produces a hormonal cascade that results in the
secretion of catecholamines, especially norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Hormones estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol, as well as the
neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, also affect how organisms react to stress.[5]
This response is recognized as the first stage of the general adaptation syndrome that
regulates stress responses among vertebrates and other organisms.
Physiology
Autonomic nervous system acts unconsciously and regulates heart
rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal. This system is
the primary mechanism in control of the fight-or-flight response and its role is mediated by two
different components.
Sympathetic nervous system function is to activate the physiological changes that occur during
the fight-or-flight response. This component of the autonomic nervous system utilizes and
activates the release of norepinephrine in the reaction.
Parasympathetic nervous system main function is to activate the "rest and digest" response
and return the body to homeostasis after the fight or flight response. This system utilizes and
activates the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.[8]

The reaction begins in the amygdala, which triggers a neural response in the hypothalamus,
followed by activation of the pituitary gland and secretion of the hormone ACTH.
The adrenal gland is activated almost simultaneously and releases epinephrine, results in the
production of the hormone cortisol, which increases blood pressure, blood sugar and
suppresses the immune system. The initial response and subsequent reactions are triggered in
an effort to create a boost of energy. This boost of energy is activated by epinephrine binding
to liver cells and the subsequent production of glucose.
Additionally, the circulation of cortisol functions to turn fatty acids into available energy, which
prepares muscles throughout the body for response.
Catecholamine hormones, such as adrenaline (epinephrine) or noradrenaline (norepinephrine),
facilitate immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for
violent muscular action:
Acceleration of heart and lung action
Paling or flushing, or alternating between both
Inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or
stops
General effect on the sphincters of the body
Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body
Liberation of metabolic energy sources (particularly fat and glycogen) for muscular action
 Dilation of blood vessels for muscles
Inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation
Dilation of pupil (mydriasis)
Relaxation of bladder
Inhibition of erection
Auditory exclusion (loss of hearing)
Tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision)
Disinhibition of spinal reflexes
Shaking

Function of physiological changes

The physiological changes that occur during the fight or flight response are activated in order to
give the body increased strength and speed in anticipation of fighting or running. Some of the
specific physiological changes and their functions include:
Increased blood flow to the muscles.
Increased blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugars, and fats in order to supply the body with
extra energy.
The blood clotting function of the body speeds up in order to prevent excessive blood loss in
the event of an injury sustained during the response.
Increased muscle tension in order to provide the body with extra speed and strength.

Emotional components
Emotional reactivity
During the reaction, the intensity of emotion that is brought on by the stimulus will also
determine the nature and intensity of the behavioral response. Individuals with higher levels of
emotional reactivity may be prone to anxiety and aggression, which illustrates the implications
of appropriate emotional reaction in the fight or flight response.
Cognitive components
Content specificity
The specific components of cognitions in the fight or flight response seem to be largely
negative. These negative cognitions may be characterized by: attention to negative stimuli, the
perception of ambiguous situations as negative, and the recurrence of recalling negative
words. There also may be specific negative thoughts associated with emotions commonly seen
in the reaction.
Perception of control
Perceived control relates to an individual's thoughts about control over situations and
events. Perceived control should be differentiated from actual control because an individual's
beliefs about their abilities may not reflect their actual abilities. Therefore, overestimation or
underestimation of perceived control can lead to anxiety and aggression.
Social information processing
The social information processing model proposes a variety of factors that determine behavior
in the context of social situations and preexisting thoughts. The attribution of hostility,
especially in ambiguous situations, seems to be one of the most important cognitive factors
associated with the fight or flight response because of its implications towards aggression.
Other animals
Evolutionary perspective
An evolutionary psychology explanation is that early animals had to react to threatening stimuli
quickly and did not have time to psychologically and physically prepare themselves. The fight or
flight response provided them with the mechanisms to rapidly respond to threats against
survival.
Examples
A typical example of the stress response is a grazing zebra. If the zebra sees a lion closing in for
the kill, the stress response is activated as a means to escape its predator. The escape requires
intense muscular effort, supported by all of the bodys systems. The sympathetic nervous
systems activation rarely provides for these needs. A similar example involving fight is of a cat
about to be attacked by a dog. The cat shows accelerated heartbeat, piloerection (hair standing
on end, normally to dissipate heat), and pupil dilation, all signs of sympathetic arousal. Note
that the zebra and cat still maintain homeostasis in all states.
Varieties of responses
Animals respond to threats in many complex ways. Rats, for instance, try to escape when
threatened, but will fight when cornered. Some animals stand perfectly still so that predators
will not see them. Many animals freeze or play dead when touched in the hope that the
predator will lose interest.

Other animals have alternative self-protection methods. Some species of cold-

blooded animals change color swiftly, to camouflage themselves. These responses are triggered
by the sympathetic nervous system, but, in order to fit the model of fight or flight, the idea of
flight must be broadened to include escaping capture either in a physical or sensory way. Thus,
flight can be disappearing to another location or just disappearing in place. And often both fight
and flight are combined in a given situation.
The fight or flight actions also have polarity the individual can either fight or flee against
something that is threatening, such as a hungry lion, or fight for or fly towards something that is
needed, such as the safety of the shore from a raging river.

A threat from another animal does not always result in immediate fight or flight. There may be
a period of heightened awareness, during which each animal interprets behavioral signals from
the other. Signs such as paling, piloerection, immobility, sounds, and body language
communicate the status and intentions of each animal. There may be a sort of negotiation,
after which fight or flight may ensue, but which might also result in playing, mating, or nothing
at all. An example of this is kittens playing: each kitten shows the signs of sympathetic arousal,
but they never inflict real damage.
 See also
Hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal axis
Coping (psychology)
Defense physiology
Emotional dysregulation
Freezing behavior
Escape distance
The Relaxation Response
Rest and digest
Vasoconstriction
Workplace bullying
YerkesDodson law

Acute stress reaction

Anxiety
Anxiety disorder
Panic attack
Phobia
Social anxiety
Social anxiety disorder