Biology Psychology; biology of fear

Question 1

ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONS OF EMOTIONS

Answer 1

Fear → alerts us to escape from danger
Anger → directs us to attack an intruder
Disgust → tells us to avoid things that may cause illness

Question 2

WHAT IS FEAR?

Answer 2

• integral part of brain’s defensive mechanism
• evolved to protect animals & humans from predation
  & other ecological threats

Question 3

Public Health Service in US: ≈50% of ‘mental’ problems
(not related to substance abuse) are __________:
* Phobias
* Panic attacks
* Post traumatic stress disorder
* Obsessive compulsive disorder
* Generalised anxiety

Answer 3

anxiety disorders

Question 4

True or faulse; Connections from neocortex → amygdala are much
weaker than those from amygdala → neocortex

Answer 4

True

Question 5

______ CONTAINS CELLS THAT
FIRE IN RESPONSE TO:
* Expressions of fear on faces of other
humans
* Objects of fear

Answer 5

HUMAN AMYGDALA

Question 6

Amygdala is designed to _____

Answer 6

detect predators

Question 7

A strong stimulus to the amygdala can result in:

Answer 7

• Piloerection (hair standing on end)
• Heart racing
• Fight/flight hormones flooding body

Question 8

_____analyses frightening stimulus in
detail (using info from many parts of brain) &
message is sent back down to amygdala

Answer 8

Higher cortex

Question 9

Joseph LeDoux suggests that:

Answer 9

• ‘fear’ should denote feelings and
• ‘threat-induced defensive reactions’ should
  be used for responses

Question 10

‘FEAR’ IS USED SCIENTIFICALLY IN what TWO WAYS:

Answer 10

• conscious feelings and
• behavioural and physiological responses.

Question 11

For traumatic memory, two memory systems are
important:

Answer 11

EXPLICIT (CONSCIOUS) MEMORIES:
* Mediated by hippocampus & other parts of
temporal lobe memory system and
* Blood pressure & heart rate rise, begin to sweat
& muscles tighten up
IMPLICIT (UNCONSCIOUS) MEMORIES:
* Mediated by amgydala & neural connection