“…Activation of this internal stress system works primarily through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS; Murison, 2016;Pervanidou & Chrousos, 2012). Activation of the HPA axis triggers the release of cortisol (Schumacher, Kirschbaum, Fydrich, & Ströhle, 2013), whereas activation of the ANS, which includes both parasympathetic and sympathetic effects, can result in heightened vigilance, heart rate (HR), blood pressure and α-amylase (Gordis, Granger, Susman, & Trickett, 2006;Jayasinghe, Torres, Nowson, Tilbrook, & Turner, 2014).…”