Quickly assess your knowledge of the Nervous System & Stress, and identify gaps in your education. See below for assessments on these subjects:
Offer a series of free quizzes for yoga teachers to:
For more self-assessments, see the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.
Have a foundational understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.
| Afferent Neuron | A neuron that carries information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system; also called afferent nerve fiber or afferent fiber |
| Autonomic Nervous System (Ans) | A part of the peripheral nervous system; regulates automatic (largely unconscious) functions, including breathing, heart rate and aspects of the endocrine (hormonal) system; it is comprised of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems |
| Cardiac Ans | The portion of the ANS responsible for regulating heart rate, blood pressure, and maintaining homeostasis during physiological stressors such as exercise or changes in posture |
| Central Nervous System (Cns) | The brain and spinal cord |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid (Csf) | Fluid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord against chemical and physical injury, supports circulation and homeostasis, and contributes to immune defense |
| Cranial Nerves | Component of the peripheral nervous system; 12 pairs of nerves that emerge directly from the brain |
| Efferent Neuron | A neuron that carries information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body; also called efferent nerve fiber or efferent fiber |
| Ganglia | Clusters of nerve cells; with the exception of the basal ganglia, they are located outside the central nervous system |
| Heart Rate Variability (Hrv) | The change in length of time between heartbeats, an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system functioning, “a physiological measure of emotional stress” [Dr. Stephen Sinatra MD] |
| Interneuron | A neuron that acts as an intermediary to allow afferent and efferent neurons to communicate with each other; also called association neuron |
| Meninges | Protective tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord |
| Nerves | Bundles of neurons and their associated structures such as connective tissues and blood vessels |
| Nervous System | The body’s “electrical wiring” consisting of the brain, spinal cord, neurons, nerves, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid and sensory receptors |
| Neurons (Nerve Cells) | The “basic working unit of the nervous system”, these are the individual cells that generate and transmit electrical signals and are therefore, the smallest physical component of the nervous system; they communicate via electrical signals which are converted into neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons by sending impulses across a synapse; examples include noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, oxytocin, BDNF, insulin and taurine |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | A part of the autonomic nervous system; controls the relaxation response and the rest-and-digest state |
| Peripheral Nervous System (Pns) | All components of the nervous system located outside the brain and spinal cord; consists of cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and ganglia |
| Sensory Receptors | Specialized structures located throughout the body that detect stimuli and initiate signals to the brain via neurons |
| Somatic Nervous System | A part of the peripheral nervous system; controls conscious, voluntary movements such as moving your arm |
| Spinal Nerves | Component of the peripheral nervous system; 31 pairs of nerves that branch from the spinal cord |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | A part of the autonomic nervous system; triggers the stress response and fight-or-flight response |
Understand how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, including the stress response, fight-or-flight response, and relaxation response, plus discuss the fundamentals of polyvagal theory.
| Fight-Or-Flight Response | A physiological reaction that occurs when stress is perceived to be excessive or threatening |
| Hyperarousal Or Acute Stress Response | Other names for fight-or-flight response |
| Polyvagal Theory | A framework for understanding autonomic nervous system physiology; describes three response states: social engagement (ventral vagal), fight-or-flight (sympathetic mobilization), and collapse/shutdown (dorsal vagal), which exist on a continuum rather than as entirely separate modes |
| Relaxation Response | A physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional response to stress; the opposite of the fight-or-flight response |
Understand the role of “good” stress (adaptive challenge), the physiology of chronic stress, and its significant impacts on immunity, overall health, disease, and mental well-being, plus measurable outcomes from mind-body practices that induce the relaxation response and cultivate stress resilience.
Be familiar with the significance of vagal tone in the experience of stress and the effectiveness of yoga techniques.
Be proficient in communicating how yoga impacts the nervous system and stress, and the many profound effects this has on health.
Enrolling in the Study Program gives you:
See here for information about exams, badges and certification. Get links for each exam, and for a no-risk trial exam.
We think you’ll enjoy taking the exams. The questions are well-thought-out and the subject matter is quite engaging and significant for teachers. You’ll get an inspiring teaching after answering each question. At the end of the exam, you see a summary of wrong answers and the relevant teachings, giving you a personal study guide targeted to your needs.
This is an hour well-spent!
