Definition:
An internal alarm system that causes numerous physiological changes to get one ready to fight or flee a dangerous situation.
Some of the physiological changes that occur during this process include:
- Increased heart rate
- Accelerated breathing
- Constriction of blood vessels to some parts of the body and dilation of blood vessels to the muscles
- Dilation of pupils
- Auditory Exclusion (hearing loss)
- Tunnel Vision (loss of peripheral vision)
- Sweating to cool the body in response to the heat generated as one gets ready to contend with a predator
