Chapter 15: Emotions, Aggression, and Stress Flashcards
Emotion
A subjective mental state that is usually accompanied by distinctive behaviors, feelings, and involuntary physiological changes
Sympathetic Nervous System
A component of the autonomic nervous system that arises from the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A component of the autonomic nervous system that arises from both the cranial nerves and sacral spinal cord
James-Lange Theory
The theory that our experiences of emotion is a response to the physiological changes that accompany it
Cannon-Bard Theory
The theory that our experiences of emotion is independent of the simultaneous physiological changes that accompany it
Cognitive Attribution Theory
The theory that our emotional experience results from cognitive analysis of the context around us, such that our physiological changes may accentuate emotions but not specify which emotion we experience
Polygraph
Also called “lie detecter”. A device that measures several bodily responses, such as heart rate and blood pressure
Individual Response Stereotypy
The tendency of individuals to show the same response pattern to particular situations throughout their life span
Evolutionary Psychology
A field devoted to asking how natural selection has shaped behavior in humans and animals
Facial Nerve
Cranial Nerve VII (#7), which receives information from the face and controls the superficial muscles there
Trigeminal Nerve
Cranial Nerve V (#5), which receives information from the face and controls jaw musculature
Bell’s Palsy
A disorder, usually caused by viral infection, in which the facial nerve on one side stops conducting action potentials, resulting in paralysis for one side of the face
Brain Self-Stimulation
The process in which animals will work to provide electrical stimulation to a particular brain site, presumably because experience is very rewarding
Medial Forebrain Bundle
A collection of axons traveling in the midline region of the forebrain
Decorticate Rage
Also called “sham rage”. Sudden intense rage characterized by action (such as snarling and biting in dogs) that lacks clear direction
Limbic System
A loosely defined, widespread group of brain nuclei that innervate each other to form a network. These nuclei are implicated in emotions
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
A condition, brought about by bilateral amygdala damage, that is characterized by dramatic emotional changed including reduction in fear and anxiety
Fear Conditioning
A type of classical conditioning where a previously neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with shock or some other unpleasant experience, causing the individual to act fearful in response to the stimulus
Amygdala
A group of nuclei in the medial anterior part of the temporal lobe
Two-Photon Excitation Microscopy
Method of providing many low-energy photons that can penetrate deep into tissues, such that simultaneous arrival of two photons at a fluorescent molecule is sufficient to elicit a visible photon in response
Aggression
Behavior that is intended to cause pain or harm (whether physical or emotional) to others, either individually or in groups
Intermale Aggression
Aggression between males of the same species
Medial Amygdala
A region of the amygdala involved in processing olfactory stimuli
Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)
A hypothalamic region involved in eating, sexual and aggressive behaviors
Maternal Aggression
The fierce defensive aggression of females defending their offspring
Psychopathy
A cluster of personality traits with superficial charm, lying, and diminished remorse
Stress
Any circumstance that upsets homeostasis balance
Alarm Reaction
The initial response to stress
Adrenal Medulla
The inner core of the adrenal gland, which secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
Norepinephrine
Here, a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla under the control of the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for action
Epinephrine
Also called “Adrenaline”. Here, a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla under the control of the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for action
Adrenal Cortex
The outer rind of the adrenal gland, which secretes steroid hormones, including cortisol
Adrenal Steroids
Steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex, including glucocorticoids such as cortisol and mineralocorticiords such as aldosterone
Cortisol
A glucocorticiod stress hormone of the adrenal cortex
Stress Immunization
The concept that mild stress early in life makes an individual better able to handle stress later in life
Epigenetic Regulation
Process affecting the expression of a particular gene without affecting the sequence of nucleotides making up the gene itself
Psychosomatic Medicine
A field of study that emphasizes that role of psychological factors of disease
Health Psychology
Also called “Behavioral Medicine”. A field that studies psychological influences on health-related processes, such as why people become ill and how they remain healthy
Psychoneuroimmunology
The study of the immune system and its interaction with the nervous system and behavior
Phagocyte
An immune system cell that engulfs invading molecules or microbes
B Lymphocyte
Also called “B Cell”. Immune system cell, formed in the bone marrow (hence the B), that mediates hormonal immunity
Antibodies
Also called “immunoglobulins”. Large proteins that recognize and permanently bind to particular shapes, normally as part of the immune system attack o foreign particles
T Lymphocytes
Also called “T Cells”. Immune system cells, formed in the thymus (hence the 7), that include killer T cells, which attacks foreign microbes, and helper T cells, which secretes cytokines
Cytokines
Proteins that include the proliferation of other cells, as in the immune system
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
A therapy to reduce stress that pairs relaxation with efforts to focus attention on the present moment, rather than past or future problems
