Preconscious regions of the brain rapidly register a threat. Muscles then prime us for quick action; the visceral nervous system supports the muscles with glucose, oxygen, etc.; and over hours to days steroids prepare us for a long-term challenge. All these bodily changes feed back on the brain and register preconsciously as gut feelings and consciously as emotions or moods. Emotions and moods ensure that conscious thoughts synchronize with the state of the body to produce coherent behavior, such as anger, fear or happiness.
