Emotions Flashcards
What is the behavioral component of an emotional response?
Physical response at the macro level; muscle movements, running, fighting, facial expressions
What is the autonomic component of an emotional response?
Physiological responses that provide a quick release of energy and facilitate the behavioral response
What is the hormonal component of an emotional response?
Hormones (e.g., adrenalin/epinephrine) secreted by the adrenal medulla; nutrients converted to glucose for energy
What does the amygdala do?
It coordinates and integrates the behavioral, autonomic, and hormonal components of emotional responses; especially threatening/aversive stimuli
What is the central nucleus?
One of the several nuclei in the amygdala that is involved in emotional responding; the most prominent; most important part of brain for expression of emotional responses provoked by aversive stimuli
Where does input to the amygdala come from?
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (emotional regulation); thalamus (sensory input); hippocampal formation (memory)
Where does the amygdala project?
Thalamus –> prefrontal cortex; ventromedial prefrontal cortex; hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla
What is a conditioned emotional response?
A formerly inert stimulus now elicits emotional response because of some aversive/feared stimulus
What are some symptoms of amygdala damage?
People have impaired acquisition of conditioned emotional response, no increased startle response when feeling unpleasant emotion, no increased memory for emotionally connoted story
What three brain areas are involved in mediation of aggression?
Periaqueductal gray (pain regulation, motor response), hypothalamus (control of ANS), amygdala
What does Serotonin (5-HT) do?
Inhibits aggression; in studies, it’s associated with aggression and antisocial behavior
What does the vmPFC do?
Helps perceive and understand the meaning of social situations (one of the most complex processing we do); involves integration of sensory info with memories and cognitive abilities
Where does input to the vmPFC come from?
Dorsomedial thalamus, temporal lobe (both bring info about the environment); ventral segmental area (arousal); olfactory system; amygdala (emotionally relevant info)
Where does the vmPFC project?
Cingulate cortex (control of behavior); hippocampal formation (memory); temporal lobe, lateral hypothalamus (ANS), amygdala
What occurs with damage to the orbitofrontal cortex?
Individual is able to verbalize reasonable, appropriate, logical plans and responses but is unable to apply them in everyday situations
What does the anterior cingulate cortex do?
Serves as interface between executive functions of frontal lobe, emotional function of amygdala, and brain areas controlling movement
Which areas of the brain are activated by personal moral dilemmas?
Anterior cingulate cortex; dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
What does the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex do?
Involved in cognitive functions; working memory, response selection, verification of info that is retrieved from long term memory, evaluation/implementation of strategies
What is instrumental aggression?
Aggression that is planned, to gain something
What results from decreased activity of serotonin neurons?
Increased risk tasking, increased aggression
What occurs in terms of R hemisphere damage and facial expression?
Individual can make judgments about emotional aspects of hypothetical situations but difficulty judging emotions conveyed in facial expressions/gestures
What occurs in terms of R hemisphere damage and voice tone?
Findings suggest comprehension of words and recognition of voice tone are functions mediated by different areas of the brain
From where does the FFA receive input?
Parvocellular system (cones–high spatial frequency–detail detection)
From where does the amygdala receive cortical and subcortical input?
Superior colliculus –> pulvinar; primarily from magnocellular system (rods–low spatial frequency–movement, depth, subtle differences in brightness
