Chapter 6: Emotion and the Central Nervous System Flashcards
MacLean’s Theory
the brain is made out of the reptilian (brain stem), the mammalian (the mid brain), and the neocortex (the cerebral cortex)
Limbic System Theory (NOT RIGHT)
produces and reacts to emotions
EEG
electroencephalography; many electrodes on the scalp to track electric pulses made by action potentials/evoked potentials; millisecond by millisecond
Brain Fingerprinting
a suspect is shown images of a crime scene and their brain is monitored for similarities with the familiar sight pathway/novel stimulus pathway
PET
uses radioactively tagged glucose to track brain activity
fMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging; tracks the amount of hemoglobin by using a magnetic field, with voxels; not millisecond by millisecond, but getting better
Neurochemistry
focuses on measuring activity at a particular type of synapse; difficult to control because it is either flooding or depleting the brain of some hormone or neurotransmitter
Optogenetics
a specially manipulated virus used to control the activity of just one type of neurone in one brain area
Amygdala
looks like an almond, involved in emotional processing, fear, and sends information to and from the cerebral cortex
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
pattern of emotional changes that happen after the removal or complete dysfunction of the amygdala
Urbach-Weithe Disease
calcium accumulates and damages the amygdala without damaging anywhere else in the brain
Fear Conditioning
using a painful CS to elicit a “fearful” CR
Cingulate Cortex
activated when evaluating the threat level of a stimuli, though the stronger the connection between this and the amygdala, the more sensitive a person is to threats in general
Hypothalamus
a small structure that is also almond-like and collects sensory information for what an appropriate behaviour is given a situation; maintains homeostasis
Nucleus Accumbens
activated by pleasant stimulants, releasing dopamine into the brain; sex, food, music, etc; also responds a bit to fear
Ventral Tegmental area
grouped with the nucleus accumbens as the reward system
Wanting vs Liking
wanting only activates if the reward is uncertain; once the reward is received, liking starts; there is a large crash in the wanting system if the reward isn’t won
Insula
region of the cortex tucked within the fold between the temporal and the parietal lobes; perception of taste, facial recognition, activated during interoception; damage = weaker emotional feelings and less empathy for others
Prefrontal Cortex
important for working memory, impulse inhibition, planning, etc; damage = flat effect, less empathy, can’t interpret facial expressions well, less guilt with certain actions
Frontotemporal Dementia
parts of the frontal and temporal lobes gradually degenerate; less empathy for other people, lack of embarrassment; Phineas Gage
Beta-Endorphin
natural painkiller in the opioid family
Dopamine
Parkinson’s and Depression, associated with motor function, antipsychotics block dopamine receptors
Serotonin
important in nausea, memory, sleep, etc; SSRIs and DSNor
Oxytocin
released as a hormone by the pituitary gland; causes contraction during labour, increases secretion during arousal and orgasm; also vasopressin
Autonomic Nervous System
composed of the pns and sns; rest and digest vs flight or fight, one for resting and one for preparation, though can be activated at the same time, i.e. nausea, sex, or predator fear
