AI Flashcards Lecture 3
What is the central theme of the lecture?
The lecture focuses on the relationship between empathy, violence and endocrinology. It aims to deconstruct empathy, examine its neuroendocrinology, and link it with violence.
What are some key aspects of empathy discussed in the lecture?
Empathy is described as being myopic, selective, and fleeting. It is also described as confusing and multifaceted.
How is empathy deconstructed in the lecture?
Empathy is broken down into different components: automatic contagion, personal distress (self-oriented), concern (focus on others) and mentalizing.
What is the lecture’s perspective on empathy?
The lecture questions if empathy is always positive, and explores its potential downsides, such as how empathy can be destructive.
How does the lecture describe the neuroendocrinology of empathy?
The lecture explores how hormones like testosterone affect empathy, particularly the impact of testosterone on reactions to angry faces and dominance.
What is the relationship between testosterone and empathy described in the lecture?
According to the lecture, increased testosterone levels can lead to reduced fear and empathic responses, and increased dominance.
How does testosterone facilitate aggression?
The lecture mentions that testosterone facilitates aggression by affecting reactivity to emotional faces and that the balance between testosterone and cortisol is also important.
What is the link between endocrinology and morality, according to the lecture?
The lecture proposes that there is a link between endocrinology and morality, which may be mediated by empathy.
How is the amygdala’s response related to antisocial behaviour, according to the lecture?
According to the lecture, the amygdala is less responsive to moral transgressions in individuals with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy.
How is the connection between the amygdala and other brain regions related to antisocial behaviour, according to the lecture?
The lecture notes that there is reduced anatomical and functional coupling between the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in individuals with psychopathy and conduct disorder.
What is the effect of prefrontal-limbic activation on behaviour, according to the lecture?
The lecture explains that prefrontal-limbic activation affects aggressive behaviour via emotion regulation and empathic responding, which is influenced by testosterone, cortisol, and serotonin.
What is the overall conclusion of the lecture about the relationship between empathy, aggression and morality?
The lecture concludes that empathy, aggression, and morality rely on overlapping neural circuitry, which is biased by endocrine systems.
