Chapter 14: Emotion & Stress

Question 1

what is the James-Lange theory of emotion?

Answer 1

the idea that a person’s physical state provides cues for the identification of an emotional state

Question 2

what is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion?

Answer 2

subjective and physical responses occur simultaneously and independently

Question 3

what is the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion?

Answer 3

there are no specific physical responses but there is a general arousal, cognitive appraisal and labeling of subjective feelings then takes place

Question 4

what is the contemporary theory of emotion?

Answer 4

emotions range from ambiguous to specific with overlapping physical properties, we make associations between stimuli and resulting physical activation

Question 5

what areas of the brain control facial expressions?

Answer 5

the motor cortex controls voluntary expression and the subcortical system controls spontaneous expression

Question 6

how does the autonomic nervous system play a role in emotion?

Answer 6

the ANS produces different patterns of arousal during different emotional states, triggers the fight-or-flight response

Question 7

what brain regions control arousal?

Answer 7

the amygdala initiates arousal while the insula helps discriminate between positive and negative stimuli

Question 8

what is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?

Answer 8

when damage to the amygdala and/or insula are unable to regulate fear and anger responses, show reduced fear and anger to stimuli

Question 9

how does the anterior cingulate cortex play a role in emotion?

Answer 9

controls conscious, cognitive appraisals of threat, works with orbitofrontal cortex, participates in processing reward and decision-making, and inhibition of aggression

Question 10

what role does the basal ganglia and the insula play in emotion?

Answer 10

perception and expression of disgust

Question 11

what role does the cerebral cortex play in emotion?

Answer 11

left hemisphere is typically correlated with positive emotions; right hemisphere is correlated with negative emotions

Question 12

what is correlated to damage to the frontal lobe?

Answer 12

frontal lobe damage is associated with a reduction in fear and anxiety, frontal lobotomy: sometimes the procedure did reduce patients’ anxiety but side effects, including seizures,
lack of inhibition, impulsivity, or lack of initiative, often emerged

Question 13

how are emotions regulated?

Answer 13

areas of the prefrontal cortex and the cingulate cortex are involved with the cognitive reappraisal process, this is why toddlers are not good at regulating their emotions since the PFC is not fully developed

Question 14

what areas of the brain help with our ability to understand intentions and behavior of other people?

Answer 14

temporal and parietal lobes: understanding people’s goals and intentions
amygdala: complex analyses of facial expression; emphasis on detecting threat
medial prefrontal cortex: processes face familiarity, the distinction between self and other, theory of mind, and social norms
orbitofrontal cortex: social decision making, theory of
mind

Question 15

what area of the brain is reponsible for violence and agression?

Answer 15

violent behavior occurs when subcortical areas (amygdala) respond strongly to provocative stimuli and are not inhibited enough by the PFC and ACC, alcohol reduces inhibition of aggression that is usually managed by these areas

Question 16

what is the genetic component to aggression?

Answer 16

within-species aggression arose due to competition for resources, twin studies indicate that the heritability of impulsive aggression is 44-72%, different alleles for the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) interact with the presence of absence of child maltreatment to predict antisocial behavior in boys

Question 17

how does the body respond to stress?

Answer 17

sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM) activation leads to the release of adrenaline and
norepinephrine, produces fight or flight responses, activation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis
(HPA) leads to release of CRH and ACTH, which stimulates cortisol, boosts energy; produces increased arousal and vigilance

Question 18

how does upraising effect stress response?

Answer 18

maternal care has an epigenetic effect on gene expression in the hippocampus, the mothers’ level of care helps to match their children’s responses to the environments they’re likely to experience

Question 19

how does stress affect drug relapse?

Answer 19

medial prefrontal, anterior and posterior cingulate, striatal and posterior insula regions to be associated with relapse outcomes, altered function in these brain regions is associated with stress-induced and drug cue-induced
craving states and an increased susceptibility to relapse, such alterations can serve as markers to identify relapse propensity and a more severe course of addiction