Chapter 6: Emotion and the Central Nervous System

Question 1

MacLean’s Theory

Answer 1

the brain is made out of the reptilian (brain stem), the mammalian (the mid brain), and the neocortex (the cerebral cortex)

Question 2

Limbic System Theory (NOT RIGHT)

Answer 2

produces and reacts to emotions

Question 3

EEG

Answer 3

electroencephalography; many electrodes on the scalp to track electric pulses made by action potentials/evoked potentials; millisecond by millisecond

Question 4

Brain Fingerprinting

Answer 4

a suspect is shown images of a crime scene and their brain is monitored for similarities with the familiar sight pathway/novel stimulus pathway

Question 5

PET

Answer 5

uses radioactively tagged glucose to track brain activity

Question 6

fMRI

Answer 6

functional magnetic resonance imaging; tracks the amount of hemoglobin by using a magnetic field, with voxels; not millisecond by millisecond, but getting better

Question 7

Neurochemistry

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Optogenetics

Answer 8

a specially manipulated virus used to control the activity of just one type of neurone in one brain area

Question 9

Amygdala

Answer 9

looks like an almond, involved in emotional processing, fear, and sends information to and from the cerebral cortex

Question 10

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome

Answer 10

pattern of emotional changes that happen after the removal or complete dysfunction of the amygdala

Question 11

Urbach-Weithe Disease

Answer 11

calcium accumulates and damages the amygdala without damaging anywhere else in the brain

Question 12

Fear Conditioning

Answer 12

using a painful CS to elicit a “fearful” CR

Question 13

Cingulate Cortex

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Hypothalamus

Answer 14

a small structure that is also almond-like and collects sensory information for what an appropriate behaviour is given a situation; maintains homeostasis

Question 15

Nucleus Accumbens

Answer 15

activated by pleasant stimulants, releasing dopamine into the brain; sex, food, music, etc; also responds a bit to fear

Question 16

Ventral Tegmental area

Answer 16

grouped with the nucleus accumbens as the reward system

Question 17

Wanting vs Liking

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Insula

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Prefrontal Cortex

Answer 19

important for working memory, impulse inhibition, planning, etc; damage = flat effect, less empathy, can’t interpret facial expressions well, less guilt with certain actions

Question 20

Frontotemporal Dementia

Answer 20

parts of the frontal and temporal lobes gradually degenerate; less empathy for other people, lack of embarrassment; Phineas Gage

Question 21

Beta-Endorphin

Answer 21

natural painkiller in the opioid family

Question 22

Dopamine

Answer 22

Parkinson’s and Depression, associated with motor function, antipsychotics block dopamine receptors

Question 23

Serotonin

Answer 23

important in nausea, memory, sleep, etc; SSRIs and DSNor

Question 24

Oxytocin

Answer 24

released as a hormone by the pituitary gland; causes contraction during labour, increases secretion during arousal and orgasm; also vasopressin

Question 25

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 25

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