Emotions Flashcards
limbic system
network in the brain that is situated on top of the brain stem and is heavily involved in the processing of emotions, behavior, and long-term memory
hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala
hippocampus
part of the limbic system responsible for creating new long-term memories, and can be considered the center of the limbic system
hypothalamus
the part of the limbic system located below the thalamus that regulates the autonomic nervous system by controlling the release of hormones
amygdala
part of the limbic system that is largely responsible for the processing of emotions, especially anger and fear
Kluver-Bucy syndrome
rare disorder caused by bilateral damage to the amygdala that causes hyperorality, hypersexuality, and inappropriate behavior that can be attributed to disinhibition
thalamus
part of the limbic system that relays and filters sensory information that comes in from afferent neurons and sends it to the appropriate areas of the cortex
left hemisphere
side of the brain that shows more activity in sociable, enthusiastic people, and is activated during positive emotions
right hemisphere
the side of the brain that shows more activity for negative emotions, and is more active in isolated people
prefrontal cortex
the part of the brain responsible for attention, planning, and decision making
it can atrophy with chronic stress
Phineas Gage
a famous patient that became rude and uninhibited after an iron rod destroyed the majority of his prefrontal cortex
autonomic nervous system
division of the nervous system that controls unconscious body functions, such as digestion, heart rate, and breathing
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the “fight or flight” response through the release of adrenaline
this system is known to increase heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, glucose release, and to dilate the pupils and decreases salivation/digestion
epinephrine (adrenaline)
the neurotransmitter that is involved in the sympathetic nervous system and the “fight or flight” response
parasympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for “rest and digest” functions, mediated through the release of acetylcholine
decreases heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and glucose release, as well as dilates the pupils, and increases salivation/digestion
emotion
temporary, generally involuntary state or experience that causes physiological, cognitive and behavioral changes
physiological reactions to emotion
variations in the production of neurotransmitters, autonomic nervous system activity and brain activity due to the experience of a certain feeling or state
cognitive reactions to emotion
mental assessments that help to make sense of and evaluate a feeling or state
behavioral reactions to emotion
actions that can be both consciously and unconsciously caused by a change in state or feeling (eg smiling)
universal emotions
states or feelings that are experienced by all people and have cross-culturally consistent facial expressions
include: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, and surprise
parts of the limbic system
hypothalamus
thalamus
hippocampus
amygdala
James-Lange Theory of Emotion
idea that the physiological response to an event precedes the experience of emotion, and it is the interpretation of this physiological response that causes the emotion to be felt
Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
idea that experiencing an event simultaneously and directly causes both the physiological response and emotion
Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion (Two-Factor Theory of Emotion)
idea that both the physiological response and the cognitive label of the physiological response precede the experience of an emotion
physiological response is directly caused by the event
Lazarus Theory of Emotion
idea that appraisal of the event causes both the emotion and the physiological response simultaneously
stress
a physiological response to a threatening event or the perception of pressure
stessor
an event capable of causing physiological arousal
significant life change stressor
event that impacts a person in a drastic way, such as marriage, moving, job loss, having a child, or losing a loved one
Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale
test that gives a numerical value to the amount of stress that could be caused by 43 different significant lief changes
used as an attempt to estimate the risk of stress-related illnesses
catastrophe stressor
an event that is threatening to nearly all people in a community, such as a natural disaster or war
daily hassle stressors
events that happen on a day to day basis that are appraised as irritable or generally negative, such as traffic, loud neighbors, bickering with a spouse, etc.
ambient stressors
anything that negatively impacts the population as a whole, such as pollution, noise, or overcrowding
stress reaction
the way in which a person copes with a threatening event or circumstance
appraisal
an evaluation of an event that determines the emotional and/or behavioral response
primary appraisal of stress
when an event is first evaluated as threatening or nonthreatening
secondary appraisal of stress
the evaluation of a person’s ability to cope with a situation that has been deemed threatening
this is when the person examines the harm that has already been experienced, the existing threat, and the probability that the threat can be overcome
fight or flight response
the body’s reaction to a stressful event through sympathetic nervous system activation
typically mediated by acetylcholine
adrenal gland
the endocrine gland located on top of the kidney that releases epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine
adrenal medulla
the interior portion of the adrenal gland that is activated by the sympathetic nervous system and releases catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
catecholamines
a class of hormones produced by the adrenal gland that includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
adrenal cortex
the exterior portion of the adrenal gland that releases hormones as part of the stress response, including aldosterone and cortisol
cortisol
a glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal cortex
glucocorticoids
a class of steroid hormones often released in response to stress (eg cortisol)
tend and befriend
a response to stress that revolves around creating and using social support
oxytocin
a hormone that contributes to social bonding, pair bonding, and childbirth
general adaptation syndrome
description of the body’s response to stress that uses three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
alarm phase
initial reaction to stress that prepares the body for a fight or flight response
heart rate and cortisol levels are elevated
resistance phase
period of time spent actively coping with a stressor
stress hormones including cortisol remain elevated, and breathing rate and blood pressure are elevated
exhaustion
after a prolonged period of stress, the body depletes its coping resources and enters this period of fatigue and decreased stress tolerance
hypertension
perpetually high blood pressure
often caused by long-term stress-related elevations in blood pressure that increase muscle mass around blood vessels, which in turn increase rigidity, increasing blood pressure further indefinitely
vascular disease
a condition that affects blood vessels
caused by high blood pressure damaging the vessels, resulting in plaque buildup and narrowing of the vessels
coronary artery disease
type of vascular disease that occurs when there is plaque buildup in the coronary artery
results in the heart not getting the nutrients it requires, which can cause a heart attack
glucagon
hormone that promotes the conversion of glycogen to glucose
it is released during the fight or flight response (among other times)
innate immune system
division of the immune system that is nonspecific and defends against pathogens using barriers, inflammation, and phagocytes
this system can be upregulated with stress and potentially attack the body, or it can be repressed with chronic stress and fail to protect the body
depression
mood disorder characterized by a prolonged period of intense sadness and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
can be an effect of chronic stress
anhedonia
inability to feel pleasure
a classic symptom of depression
anterior cingulate
portion of the frontal cortex that is affected in depression and stops responding to serotonin, causing an increase in the perception of stressors
learned helplessness
a lost ability to identify and pursue coping mechanisms due to repeated inability to successfully cope with stressors
anxiety
excessive fear or worrying
can be an effect of chronic stress due to over-activation of the amygdala
addiction
some type of behavior that the sufferer feels compelled to perform, often impeding daily functioning
often results when drug use is used as a coping mechanism for stress
coping with stress
act of putting conscious effort into reducing personal problems or conflicts or minimizing their effects
success in this is related to the amount of perceived control the person feels they have over the situation, optimism, and social support
managing stress
many methods, including exercise, meditation, faith, and cognitive flexibility