Emotions Flashcards
what ways are emotions expressed?
- visceral motor system
- somatic motor system (facial muscles)
what are all emotions accompanied by?
subjective experiences
what are visceral motor system reactions brought on by?
changes in the activation of the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric components of the visceral motor system
sympathetic NS=
fight or flight
parasympathetic/enteric NS=
rest and digest
what are the 2 mechanisms of control for the somatic motor system?
- voluntary (classical motor pathway)
- involuntary/automatic (limbic system)
in order to fully express our emotions what do we need?
both voluntary movements of the muscles of the face and involuntary response
what are the 2 sources of emotion?
- physical sensation (sensory drive from muscles and internal organs)
- cognition (brain telling you to feel a certain way)
emotions differ along what 2 dimensions?
intensity (arousal level)
valence (pleasantness or aversive:approach or avoidance)
what brain structures are involved in emotion?
hypothalamus
amygdala
limbic system
what is the function of the hypothalamus with emotions?
integration of emotion
what 2 main target structures connect the hypothalamus?
- reticular formation
- anterior pituitary gland
what is the reticular formation responsible for?
Responsible for
producing somatic and
visceral responses tied
to emotional states
what is the anterior pituitary gland linked to?
endocrine system
Hypothalamus is
connected to target
structures that produce
behaviors associated
with what emotion?
anger
what prepares the body for physical exertion?
adrenaline and cortisol
what is sham rage?
anger with no obvious target/cause
what does the amygdala control?
the hypothalamus
what is the amygdala?
Group of nuclei (gray matter)
where is the amygdala?
anteromedial temporal lobe
what does the amygdala do?
Receives and transmits information from diverse cortical areas
what are the 3 major subdivisions of the amygdala?
- Medial group -> olfactory system
- Basal-lateral group -> cortex
- Central/anterior group -> hypothalamus
what does the basal lateral amygdala
provide?
emotional significance to a stimuli
where is the amygdala physically located?
between descending cortical/limbic
systems and hypothalamus.
what does the amygdala mediate?
descending control of hypothalamus (and emotional motor response via
hypothalamus).
what is the hypothesis about thee limbic system?
Specific brain circuits are devoted to
emotional experience and expression (like the occipital cortex is devoted to vision)
the limbic lobe is the “forebrain” circuit that causes us to feel things
for many people, what Side of the face shows more emotion?
left side of the face
