• Question: how does adrenaline enhance performance

    Asked by solosalix to Susan, Rob, Rebecca, Josh, Chris on 24 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Susan Cartwright

      Susan Cartwright answered on 24 Jun 2015:


      Adrenaline, otherwise known as epinephrine, is a neurotransmitter: that is, it is involved in the transmission of impulses down nerve cells, and between brain cells. It is particularly active in control of muscles.

      When your body releases extra adrenaline, it speeds up the heart rate and increases blood supply to muscles (while decreasing it elsewhere). This gives your muscles greater oxygen supply and hence enhances performance.

      Adrenaline is released in response to stress: it’s part of the so-called “fight or flight” mechanism, which prepared your ancestors to either run away or defend themselves. (Nowadays, there are stresses to which this is not an appropriate response, e.g. being carpeted by your boss, and adrenaline release isn’t always helpful!) It can also be used to treat severe allergic reactions, because opening up the blood vessels in the muscles and cardiovascular system reverses the effects of the allergic reaction (which tends to close them down).

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