Chapter 5 - Social Neuroscience

Question 1

Amygdala

Answer 1

A region located deep within the brain in the medial area (toward the center) of the temporal lobes (parallel to the ears). If you could draw a line through your eye sloping toward the back of your head and another line between your two ears, the amygdala would be located at the intersection of these lines. The amygdala is involved in detecting relevant stimuli in our environment and has been implicated in emotional responses.

Question 2

Automatic process

Answer 2

When a thought, feeling, or behavior occurs with little or no mental effort. Typically, automatic processes are described as involuntary or spontaneous, often resulting from a great deal of practice or repetition.

Question 3

Cortisol

Answer 3

A hormone made by the adrenal glands, within the cortex. Cortisol helps the body maintain blood pressure and immune function. Cortisol increases when the body is under stress.

Question 4

Electroencephalogram

Answer 4

A measure of electrical activity generated by the brain’s neurons.

Question 5

Flight or flight response

Answer 5

The physiological response that occurs in response to a perceived threat, preparing the body for actions needed to deal with the threat.

Question 6

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Answer 6

A measure of changes in the oxygenation of blood flow as areas in the brain become active.

Question 7

Functional neuroanatomy

Answer 7

Classifying how regions within the nervous system relate to psychology and behavior.

Question 8

Hormones

Answer 8

Chemicals released by cells in the brain or body that affect cells in other parts of the brain or body.

Question 9

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Answer 9

A system that involves the hypothalamus (within the brain), the pituitary gland (within the brain), and the adrenal glands (at the top of the kidneys). This system helps maintain homeostasis (keeping the body’s systems within normal ranges) by regulating digestion, immune function, mood, temperature, and energy use. Through this, the HPA regulates the body’s response to stress and injury.

Question 10

Ingroup

Answer 10

A social group to which an individual identifies or belongs.

Question 11

Lesions

Answer 11

Damage or tissue abnormality due, for example, to an injury, surgery, or a vascular problem.

Question 12

Medial prefrontal cortex

Answer 12

An area of the brain located in the middle of the frontal lobes (at the front of the head), active when people mentalize about the self and others.

Question 13

Mentalizing

Answer 13

The act of representing the mental states of oneself and others. Mentalizing allows humans to interpret the intentions, beliefs, and emotional states of others.

Question 14

Neuroendocrinology

Answer 14

The study of how the brain and hormones act in concert to coordinate the physiology of the body.

Question 15

Outgroup

Answer 15

A social group to which an individual does not identify or belong.

Question 16

Simulation

Answer 16

Imaginary or real imitation of other people’s behavior or feelings.

Question 17

Social categorization

Answer 17

The act of mentally classifying someone into a social group (e.g., as female, elderly, a librarian).

Question 18

Social support

Answer 18

A subjective feeling of psychological or physical comfort provided by family, friends, and others.

Question 19

Stereotypes

Answer 19

The beliefs or attributes we associate with a specific social group. Stereotyping refers to the act of assuming that because someone is a member of a particular group, he or she possesses the group’s attributes. For example, stereotyping occurs when we assume someone is unemotional just because he is a man, or particularly athletic just because she is African American.

Question 20

Stress

Answer 20

A threat or challenge to our well-being. Stress can have both a psychological component, which consists of our subjective thoughts and feelings about being threatened or challenged, as well as a physiological component, which consists of our body’s response to the threat or challenge (see “fight or flight response”).

Question 21

Superior temporal sulcus

Answer 21

The sulcus (a fissure in the surface of the brain) that separates the superior temporal gyrus from the middle temporal gyrus. Located in the temporal lobes (parallel to the ears), it is involved in perception of biological motion or the movement of animate objects.

Question 22

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 22

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that controls many of the body’s internal organs. Activity of the SNS generally mobilizes the body’s fight or flight response.

Question 23

Temporal parietal junction

Answer 23

The area where the temporal lobes (parallel to the ears) and parietal lobes (at the top of the head toward the back) meet. This area is important in mentalizing and distinguishing between the self and others.