Emotion and Motivation Flashcards
examples of non-motivated behaviours
automatic imprinting in ducks and simple reflexes
what are non-motivated behaviours?
rigid and we have little control over them
what do non-motivated behaviours occur in?
a reflexive and stereotyped manner
what can motivation explain?
variability of behaviour
- why it varies over time
- why it is directed towards certain outcomes
what is motivation?
more than just a reflex, it can be distinguished between preparatory and consummatory behaviours
preparatory phase of behaviour
rat learning to press a lever to gain access to food
consummatory phase of behaviour
the goal of eating the food
how can the behaviour of eating food be described?
stereotypical and does not change
what type of behaviour is much more variable?
the propensity of the rat to press the lever
neural base of preparatory behaviour
damage to the amygdala impairs preparatory behaviour
neural base of consummatory behaviour
consummatory behaviour does not occur following damage to the hypothalamus
what is drive theory linked to?
behaviours such as eating or drinking
motivation _____ (drives) and _______ (incentivises) behaviour, but the dichotomy may not be accurate
pushes, pulls
homeostasis
the maintenance of an ideal, stable physiological environment
what do deviations from homeostasis result in?
a need state/physiological deprivation state
this is a compensatory response
what does the physiological deprivation state result in?
a physiological state referred to as drive state, which activates and drives behaviour
mechanistic homeostatic drive explanations
the body detects a deviation (error detector) from a physiological set point (ideal)
what happens when the set point is restored?
the body sends out a negative feedback signal to stop the motivational drive state
what is required to monitor physiological state?
setpoints and error detectors
example of withdrawal from addictive drugs
this produces physiological withdrawal, meaning more drug is required to return to the set point
this creates the drive of more drug use
what do behaviours involve?
incentives (a long-term goal) as opposed to basic motivated behaviours
hedonic reward
this is unrelated to motivational drive and focuses on the rewarding properties of stimuli that alter behaviour
example of saccharin
this is a motivated behaviour that serves no function, and underlies incentive motivation theory
what is a core element of incentives?
learning, e.g., learning that money allows for acquisition of other things that are directly more valuable
what does reward involve the combination of?
liking (sensory pleasure) and wanting (motivational incentive value)
liking
- can be conditioned
- dependent upon brainstem
- hierachal control
- responses are stereotypical and automatic
wanting
- not sensory or cognitive pleasure
- can be conditioned
- underpinned by mesolimbic dopamine
why is incentive motivation appealing?
in terms of motivation to gain access to stimuli associated with rewards
how can incentive motivation become no longer motivated?
becoming automatic and reflexive through conditioning
what does the incentive value of rewards depend upon?
the current drive state, e.g., food tasting better when hungry
incentive behaviour is still ______
flexible
what do emotional responses include?
behavioural, physiological, cognitive, and subjective changes
PTSD and DSM-V
included with trauma & stressor-related disorders
definition of PTSD
triggered by exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation
diagnosed when it causes clinically significant distress or impairments in ability to function
four diagnostic clusters of PTSD
- re-experiencing
- avoidance
- negative cognitions
- arousal
what do emotional (fear) responses include?
- physiological changes which are akin to the arousal seen in PTSD and subsequent changes in response to stimuli
- behavioural responses similar to PTSD avoidance
- changes in cognition link to negative cognitions in PTSD
- subjective feelings link to re-experiencing
relationship between PTSD and normal fear responses
their similarities suggest PTSD is characterised by abnormally intense fear response
evidence of excessive amygdala activity in PTSD
- greater amygdala activation in response to fearful faces, meaning a greater automatic brain response to fearful stimuli
- activation correlated with PTSD symptom severity, meaning amygdala is involved in PTSD symptoms
impaired prefrontal cortex in PTSD
- this can cause overactive amygdala and lead to fear running out of control
- script-driven imagery found lower ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation in PTSD patients
what is decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex associated with?
increased emotional expression
why are there negative correlations between amygdala activity and prefrontal cortex activity?
the prefrontal cortex inhibits the amygdala
unclear directionality of PTSD pathology
- is the amygdala the source of the problem when it runs out of control?
- does poor functioning prefrontal cortex allow the amygdala to run out of control
evidence of no learning occurring in excessive fear responses
increased amygdala response to unconditioned stimuli is innate, meaning no learning occurs
what might be the cause of enhanced memories of traumatic PTSD events?
physiological dysregulation
yehuda (2002) observed an abnormal stress system in PTSD patients…
found lower levels of stress hormones, as cortisol is reduced in PTSD
cortisol and noradrenaline
these compete together
low cortisol may mean enhanced NA might potentiate/enhance traumatic memories
cahill et al (1994) found emotional memories were dependent on…
noradrenaline, with higher memory upon hearing emotional stories
what could prevent emergences of PTSD?
blocking noradrenaline from working, by using a beta blocker- as enhanced noradrenaline might potentiate the reconsolidation of traumatic memories
why is noradrenaline important for the reconsolidation process?
- PTSD patients have low cortisol and high NA, which may be important for the beginning of PTSD
- continues making the traumatic memory stronger- strengthened by NA each time they are reconsolidated
what do physiological changes contribute to?
the cause and perpetuation of PTSD
if NA is involved in traumatic memory reconsolidation, what could a beta blocker create?
amnesia
brunet et al (2010) found use of a beta blocker resulted in..
66% of patients no longer meeting the clinical diagnosis for PTSD
suggests attenuating NA can prevent/cure PTSD
extinction
is the inhibition of a previously learned memory, and depends upon the prefrontal cortex
how can extinction enhance traumatic memories?
impaired prefrontal cortex might result in weaker extinction, meaning the traumatic memories have enhanced persistence
why do PTSD patients have impairments in fear memory extinction?
they have lesser activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which creates an inability to extinguish stimuli that encourage PTSD
