An emotional state brings about a wide variety of physiological changes. These changes are brought about by the autonomic nervous system. Hence, they are also called as autonomic nervous system changes.
Autonomic nervous system is a part of peripheral nervous system. The autonomic nervous system consists of many nerves leading from the brain and the spiral cord to the smooth muscles of the various organs of the body, to certain glands and to the blood vessels serving both the interior and exterior of the body.
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A.N.S. has two parts. One part is called as sympathetic system and other is called as an parasympathetic system.
The sympathetic system is active when we are aroused or when we become emotional. Sympathetic system brings about a number of physiological changes in our body. These changes help us to cope with stress.
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Following are the important physiological changes brought about by the sympathetic nervous system:
(i) Sympathetic system release two important hormones. Epinephrine (adrenalin) and Norepinephrine (noradanalin). These hormones bring about number of changes in the body.
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(ii) Liver secretes insulin which helps us to mobilise glucose (blood sugar) and, thus, make more energy available to the brain and the muscle.
(iii) Epinephrine causes the heart to beat harder.
(iv) Norepinephrine cause constriction of peripheral blood vessels and increases the blood pressure.
(v) Sympathetic system slows down the process of digestion and directs blood to the exterior of the muscles.
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(vi) The colon and bladder do not empty as easily as normally, and constipation may result. In some situations, however, when sympathetic effects have a rapid onset, they give rise to defecation and urination.
(vii) The muscles at the base of the hair follicles contract, causing erection of hair.
(viii) Profound changes in respiration may also take place. Gasps, catching of the breath and heavy breathing occur.
The other parts of the autonomic nervous system called the parasympathetic system tend to be active when we are calm and relaxed. In contrast with the sympathetic system, the parasympathetic system does many things that help to build up and conserve the body’s stores of energy, for example:
(i) It decreases the heart rate.
(ii) Reduces the blood pressure divert blood to the digestive tract. Thus, many or the effects of parasympathetic system activity arc opposite to the effects of sympathetic system activity.
In active, aroused emotional states, sympathetic activity predominates, in calmer state, parasympathetic active is dominant. But both systems are active in many emotional states. The pattern of bodily activity emotion is a blend of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity.
Beside the autonomic nervous system changes that take place in emotion. Somatic nervous system also plays an important role in emotion. This system activates the stripped muscles of the body, the arm, leg and breathing muscles, for instance. Thus, the changes in breathing, muscle tension and posture seen in emotion are brought about by activity of the somatic nervous system.
There are two patterns of bodily changes seen in emotion.
(i) Due to sympathetic system activity.
(ii) Due to parasympathetic system activity.
The pattern of sympathetic system activity leads to flight or fight reaction. The pattern of parasympathetic system activity leads to relaxation response.