Role of epinephrine in acute stress

Epinephrine is the earliest and most consistent component of the systemic response to stress. Studies performed in maximal stress (cardiac arrest) have helped elucidate the functional consequences of that secretion. Epinephrine facilitates motor behavior and has important central nerv(o)us system actions; in concert with vasopressin and the sympathetic system, it suppresses endogenous inputs, thus enhancing central flow and processing of information.