9. Emotion and stress Flashcards
define emotion
Positive or negative reactions to a certain situation (physiological and behavioural changes)
name the three components of emotion
Cognitive
Feelings
Action
emotion causes…
increased ANS activity
mix of parasympathetic and sympathetic response
summarise James Lang’s theory of emotion
Activation of the autonomic nervous system/motor action occurs first, emotion later
EVENT APPRAISAL ACTION EMOTION
what are the assumptions according to James Lang?
- people with low musculoskeletal and autonomic response –> feel fewer emotions
- increased physiological response should increase the emotion
empirical evidence for James Lang?
- Smiling increases happiness
- Frowning: certain stimuli are experienced as less pleasurable
PERCEPTION OF OWN BODY/ACTIONS CONTRIBUTES TO THE EMOTIONL EXPERIENCE
pure autonomic failure
another way of saying this?
idiopathic orthostatic hypotension
what is idiopathic orthostatic hypotension caused by?
Communication failures between ANS and rest of body
idiopathic orthostatic hypotension: symptoms?
- No reaction to stressors like physiological changes (increased heartrate, sweating)
- Less intense emotions
- Experience cognitive aspect, not emotional
BUT People with spinal cord injuries also feel emotions Emotions do not require feedback from muscle movement
brain mechanism of emotion…
the limbic system
The Limbic System: describe 3 empirical findings…
- Different areas are activated by the same emotional experience (and vice versa)
(more evident in corticotemporal and frontal areas) - right hemisphere more responsive to EMOTIONAL stimuli
- Right temporal cortex lesions: associated with problems identifying emotions in others
What is meant by “hemispheric dependency”?
Right cerebral hemisphere: behavioural INHIBITION system
Left cerebral hemisphere: behavioural ACTIVATION system
BIS
BEHAVIOURAL INHIBITION SYSTEM (right)
- increases arousal
- inhibits action
e. g. fear and disgust
- inhibits action
BAS
BEHAVIOURAL ACTIVATION SYSTEM (left)
– low arousal, approach behaviour
e.g. happiness, anger
what is the amygdala and where is it found?
a set of nuclei found deep in the temporal lobes
central nucleus –> critical in emotional response caused by aversive stimuli