Complex brain function: emotion

Question 1

LO

Answer 1

• What is emotion and what do we mean by complex.
• Describe gross brain structures that are core to emotion.
• Exemplify how defined structures contribute based on structure/function of amygdala.
• Show how basic mechanisms of plasticity and receptor function support expression of emotion.
• Provide a single example of how knowledge and pathways of emotion can be targeted to provide therapeutic benefit.

Question 2

What are the 6 simple emotions?

Answer 2

Question 3

A complex alphabet of 154 human emotions requires more complex biology. There are various terms used to describe different ‘emotions’ that are more complex. Two of these are:

Gezelligheit and Wunderlust

Explain roughly what is meant by these two terms

Answer 3

Warm and in company of human beings when the outside is so cold (Gezelligheit)

Individual who has the feeling of enjoyment in the moment they’re living in but anticipates the next big thing to do (wanderlust)

Question 4

Principle human emotion is influenced by what two things and using an example can you explain this

Answer 4

• Principle human emotion has context and memory
• 4 depictions of a lion that portray different emotions (e.g., anger in lion but fear in human)
• Memory can affect the emotional response given by an image
• Context of emotional response is important and also on the memory

Question 5

Define emotion

Answer 5

A conscious brain function subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes in the body. This shifts state of consciousness or modifies feeling. It is a way of adapting organisms’ behaviour.

Question 6

The presence of emotional responses has evolved to provide what?

Answer 6

evolutionary advantage

Question 7

Tell me the types of responses that may be seen in the following situations…

• advancing lion
• romantic love towards preferred mate

Answer 7

Visceral and motor response to an advancing lion would be avoid punishment.

Receptive approach expressed in romantic love reward of a preferred mate.

Visceral response is almost instinctive, gutteral wave of emotions to an experience or stimuli

Receptive approach is listening, speaking etc.

Question 8

What might the key components of emotional biology look like?

Answer 8

Complex biology build on systems and sub-system interactions

Question 9

What have transection experiments under covered about emotion?

Answer 9

• Transection experiments highlight central role of diencephalon (reptilian part of the brain) for the expression of emotion

Question 10

Tell me about higher regulation of physical manifestations voluntary (volitional) movement and visceral responses…

Answer 10

• Higher centers one associated with motor and one emotional. The higher centers act on integrated structures
• Act through distinct routes (movement and emotional expression)
• Activate motor neurons or preganglionic autonomic system.
• Express bodily expressions of emotion (body language)
• Subjective (ethereal part is lacking in this explanation)

Question 11

Historical limbic lobe and modern limbic system

Answer 11

Question 12

Tell me about an experiment done into conditioned fear learning to express an emotion and the types of responses/ chemical changes seen

Answer 12

• A rat would be in box and a tone would play
• It would then be in a box where the tone played and it got shocked
• So next time the tone played, the rat was scared it would be shocked again as fear was coniditoned within it

Association between 1 sense (audition) and another sense foot shock increases amygdala outputs.

Strengthening of the glutamate synapses that control output.

Show long term potentiation (LTP) and condition fear learning is inhibited if NMDA receptor antagonist are added.

Hebbian mechanisms (memory) are important in emotion)

Question 13

Human patient SM with amygdala atrophy reduced fear response

Answer 13

Shows the amygdala’s role in fear response

Question 14

Why is emotion so subjective?

Answer 14

Subjective nature of emotions

• Highly integrated and context dependent
• Dynamic and Flexible (moment to moment)

Question 15

Tell me the interrelationships between the amygdala and hippocampus with memory and emotions

Answer 15

Question 16

What is explicit and implicit memory?

Answer 16

Explicit memory can be brought out by interactions between amygdala and hippocampus. Explicit memory is declarative, conscious long-term memory that is easily and intentionally recalled and recited. Implicit memory is indirect and an unconscious form of memory

Question 17

What is LTP required for?

Answer 17

LTP is required to draw a closer parallel between LTP in the amygdala slice and any enhancement in synaptic strength that accompanies conditioned fear

Question 18

Fear is not the only emotion. Positive valence: love

Answer 18

Question 19

Tell me about pharmacological manipulation of dysfunctional emotions affective disorders (e.g., anxiety)

Answer 19

Affective disorders are associated with dysfunctional emotional states.

• Depression low mood.
• Mania exaggerated elevated mood.
• Anxiety inappropriate activation of fear pathways-increased output from amygdala.

Question 20

Tell me about the effect of Benzodiazepine on the amygdala

Answer 20

Benzodiazepine/ Valium therapeutic effect. They Enhance inhibition. As amygdala is working an inhibiting, this is heightened when benzodiazepine is present. It dampens down amygdala output