Oscar Reaction

Inside Hollywood Protecting against emotional meltdown Additional hormones are available to protect brain against overload. Under extreme stress, brain forgoes logic and relies on instinct. Pituitary gland excretes adrenal corticotropic hormone, shifting as much as two-thirds of brain's cortex activity (analytical and rational thinking) to limbic system (known as "reptile" brain). Ever wonder what it feels like to win an academy award? Sure, it looks like fun, but behind the glitter and gowns you can bet those glamorous bodies are experiencing a primal reaction that's affecting nearly every part of their body. Here's an extremely inside look at what's happening the moment someone wins an Oscar. Cortex Limbic system Eyebrows raise to open eyes for greater field of vision. O Cortex interprets moment as significant and shares information with limbic system. O Limbic system and cortex conclude winning the Oscar is indeed a significantly emotional event, Brain directs What happens: • Côncentratiön becomes aftičult." • Abnity to rememoer newritórmatiön decreases. • ACtion seems to Dè movinig in slow motion. • Sốuna is'muttlếa. • iữnner vision occurs: O Information enters brain through one or more senses. Oscar winner might see or hear that she has won. O News passes to hypothalamus, which instantly informs adrenal gland that brain is terribly excited about something. Eyes fill with tears that expel excess adrenaline, and pupils dilate to get more visual information to brain. Eyes on the prize Brain perceives excitement as a threat and targets eyes on most relevant information at that second. Eyes go through automatic changes to enhance survival. Face loses color as blood is diverted to muscles. Body reacts Hand involuntarily rises to face. Mouth becomes dry as saliva and mucus production stop. Bloodflow to periphery of retina decreases, collapsing peripheral vision up to 70 percent. Mouth opens. Breathing is quieter through mouth than through nostrils - aids hearing. Researchers think this may be "freezing." a primal survival tactic, or body's way of steadying itself while deciding whether to fight or flee. Normal vision Throat muscles open wider to get more oxygen. Tunnel vision Sweat glands activate perspiration to reduce body heat caused by increased blood flow. Capillaries near skin's surface constrict as blood is diverted to muscles causing blood pressure to rise. Excitement triggers pupil dilation, leading flattens, resulting to loss of near vision Ciliary muscle relaxes. Lens in a loss of depth perception. Making memories Adrenaline's long-term function may be its ability to activate the amygdalas. The almond-sized structures enable emotions to influence how different parts of the brain perceive and remember an event. Heart pumps up to twice its normal - rate sending blood to muscles and brain. Lungs need more oxygen to supply to blood. Breathing becomes faster. Changes in balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood can cause dizziness and chest pains. Liver releases sugar and fat reserve providing instant burst of energy. Cholesterol level rises. Stomach and intestines stop digestion functions as blood is diverted to heart, muscles and brain. He remembers, she remembers Studies show amygdalas of men and women respond differently to emotional situations. UCI psychology professor Larry Cahill said. Brain images were recorded as they viewed emotionally upsetting films. Men showed an increase in glucose metabolism on the right side amygdala, an area that involves global (big picture) thinking; women showed an increase in the left, the analytical (attention to detail) thinking part of the brain. Bladder sends message to be emptied. Instinct in excited state is to fight or flee and body wants to be light on its feet. "I'd like to thank ... uhhh ..." O Adrenal gland gets message that something major is happening and floods bloodstream with adrenaline to primed body for physical action. When winners accept an Oscar onstage, their heartrates are racing - good news for some activities, terrible for others. Winner's heartrate: I Peak performance I Failure 175 bpm or higher is typical Fine motor skills (Walking up steps in heels) Complex motor skills (Unfolding speech notes) I remember Gross motor skills (Running up steps) remember a guy in the third row was everyone standing and applauding Cognitive processing (Thinking on the spot) Visual abilities (Reading from notes) asleep. 20 40 60 100 120 140 160 180 200 Heartbeats per minute Sources: The Franklin Institute, www.stress-management-isma.org. www.human-nature.com, Dr. H.W. Breedlove, Coastal Vision, UCI, A.M.P.A.S. Sharon Henry / The Register