Which of the answers below correctly identifies the brain structures involved in mediating our responses to stress? Pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus , amygdala, hypothalamus, pituitary gland Pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus , amygdala, thalamus, pituitary gland Pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus amygdala, hypothalamus, adrenal gland Pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus accumbens, hypothalamus, pituitary gland

The correct answer is **Pre-frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, pituitary gland**. These structures form the core components of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis and related stress response pathways.<br /><br />Here's a breakdown of their involvement:<br /><br />* **Amygdala:** Acts as the initial "threat detector." It processes sensory information and quickly identifies potential dangers, triggering the stress response.<br /><br />* **Hippocampus:** Involved in forming memories and contextualizing the stressful situation. It helps determine the significance of the threat based on past experiences.<br /><br />* **Hypothalamus:** The command center of the stress response. When activated by the amygdala, it releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).<br /><br />* **Pituitary Gland:** CRH signals the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).<br /><br />* **Pre-frontal Cortex:** Plays a crucial role in regulating the stress response. It assesses the situation, evaluates coping strategies, and can exert top-down control to modulate the activity of the amygdala and hypothalamus. This helps us manage our reactions to stress.<br /><br /><br />The other options are incorrect because they substitute key components:<br /><br />* The thalamus is primarily a sensory relay station and isn't directly involved in initiating or regulating the stress response in the same way as the hypothalamus.<br />* The adrenal gland, while crucial for releasing stress hormones like cortisol (activated by ACTH from the pituitary), isn't a brain structure.<br />* The nucleus accumbens is associated with reward and pleasure and isn't a primary component of the stress response pathway.<br />