Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are activated by the stress response. Neural and hormonal regulation of the stress reaction Evidence for roles of the hypothalamus and limbic system. The anterior pituitary - adrenal cortex regulatory pathway. The sympathetic nervous system - adrenal medulla pathway. Evidence for hormonal regulation of the stress reaction in animals and humans.
Evidence is provided from human correlational and animal experimental work.
Stressors that affect immune function. Stress is an important component in psychological dysfunction. It plays a role in psychoses and neuroses and influences schizophrenic symptoms and affective disorders. Ways of coping with stress include management techniques, medications, and psychological coping reactions. Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the interaction among psychological, nervous system and immune system responses.