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MCAT Psych/Soc > Emotions > Flashcards

Emotions Flashcards

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1
Q

limbic system

A

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

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2
Q

hippocampus

A

part of the limbic system responsible for creating new long-term memories, and can be considered the center of the limbic system

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3
Q

hypothalamus

A

the part of the limbic system located below the thalamus that regulates the autonomic nervous system by controlling the release of hormones

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4
Q

amygdala

A

part of the limbic system that is largely responsible for the processing of emotions, especially anger and fear

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5
Q

Kluver-Bucy syndrome

A

rare disorder caused by bilateral damage to the amygdala that causes hyperorality, hypersexuality, and inappropriate behavior that can be attributed to disinhibition

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6
Q

thalamus

A

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

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7
Q

left hemisphere

A

side of the brain that shows more activity in sociable, enthusiastic people, and is activated during positive emotions

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8
Q

right hemisphere

A

the side of the brain that shows more activity for negative emotions, and is more active in isolated people

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9
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

the part of the brain responsible for attention, planning, and decision making
it can atrophy with chronic stress

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10
Q

Phineas Gage

A

a famous patient that became rude and uninhibited after an iron rod destroyed the majority of his prefrontal cortex

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11
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

division of the nervous system that controls unconscious body functions, such as digestion, heart rate, and breathing

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12
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

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

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13
Q

epinephrine (adrenaline)

A

the neurotransmitter that is involved in the sympathetic nervous system and the “fight or flight” response

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14
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

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15
Q

emotion

A

temporary, generally involuntary state or experience that causes physiological, cognitive and behavioral changes

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16
Q

physiological reactions to emotion

A

variations in the production of neurotransmitters, autonomic nervous system activity and brain activity due to the experience of a certain feeling or state

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17
Q

cognitive reactions to emotion

A

mental assessments that help to make sense of and evaluate a feeling or state

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18
Q

behavioral reactions to emotion

A

actions that can be both consciously and unconsciously caused by a change in state or feeling (eg smiling)

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19
Q

universal emotions

A

states or feelings that are experienced by all people and have cross-culturally consistent facial expressions
include: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, and surprise

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20
Q

parts of the limbic system

A

hypothalamus
thalamus
hippocampus
amygdala

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21
Q

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

A

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

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22
Q

Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

A

idea that experiencing an event simultaneously and directly causes both the physiological response and emotion

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23
Q

Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion (Two-Factor Theory of Emotion)

A

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

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24
Q

Lazarus Theory of Emotion

A

idea that appraisal of the event causes both the emotion and the physiological response simultaneously

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25
Q

stress

A

a physiological response to a threatening event or the perception of pressure

26
Q

stessor

A

an event capable of causing physiological arousal

27
Q

significant life change stressor

A

event that impacts a person in a drastic way, such as marriage, moving, job loss, having a child, or losing a loved one

28
Q

Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale

A

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

29
Q

catastrophe stressor

A

an event that is threatening to nearly all people in a community, such as a natural disaster or war

30
Q

daily hassle stressors

A

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.

31
Q

ambient stressors

A

anything that negatively impacts the population as a whole, such as pollution, noise, or overcrowding

32
Q

stress reaction

A

the way in which a person copes with a threatening event or circumstance

33
Q

appraisal

A

an evaluation of an event that determines the emotional and/or behavioral response

34
Q

primary appraisal of stress

A

when an event is first evaluated as threatening or nonthreatening

35
Q

secondary appraisal of stress

A

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

36
Q

fight or flight response

A

the body’s reaction to a stressful event through sympathetic nervous system activation
typically mediated by acetylcholine

37
Q

adrenal gland

A

the endocrine gland located on top of the kidney that releases epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine

38
Q

adrenal medulla

A

the interior portion of the adrenal gland that is activated by the sympathetic nervous system and releases catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

39
Q

catecholamines

A

a class of hormones produced by the adrenal gland that includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine

40
Q

adrenal cortex

A

the exterior portion of the adrenal gland that releases hormones as part of the stress response, including aldosterone and cortisol

41
Q

cortisol

A

a glucocorticoid hormone released by the adrenal cortex

42
Q

glucocorticoids

A 
a class of steroid hormones
often released in response to stress (eg cortisol)
43
Q

tend and befriend

A

a response to stress that revolves around creating and using social support

44
Q

oxytocin

A

a hormone that contributes to social bonding, pair bonding, and childbirth

45
Q

general adaptation syndrome

A

description of the body’s response to stress that uses three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

46
Q

alarm phase

A

initial reaction to stress that prepares the body for a fight or flight response
heart rate and cortisol levels are elevated

47
Q

resistance phase

A

period of time spent actively coping with a stressor

stress hormones including cortisol remain elevated, and breathing rate and blood pressure are elevated

48
Q

exhaustion

A

after a prolonged period of stress, the body depletes its coping resources and enters this period of fatigue and decreased stress tolerance

49
Q

hypertension

A

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

50
Q

vascular disease

A

a condition that affects blood vessels

caused by high blood pressure damaging the vessels, resulting in plaque buildup and narrowing of the vessels

51
Q

coronary artery disease

A

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

52
Q

glucagon

A

hormone that promotes the conversion of glycogen to glucose

it is released during the fight or flight response (among other times)

53
Q

innate immune system

A

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

54
Q

depression

A

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

55
Q

anhedonia

A

inability to feel pleasure

a classic symptom of depression

56
Q

anterior cingulate

A

portion of the frontal cortex that is affected in depression and stops responding to serotonin, causing an increase in the perception of stressors

57
Q

learned helplessness

A

a lost ability to identify and pursue coping mechanisms due to repeated inability to successfully cope with stressors

58
Q

anxiety

A

excessive fear or worrying

can be an effect of chronic stress due to over-activation of the amygdala

59
Q

addiction

A

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

60
Q

coping with stress

A

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

61
Q

managing stress

A

many methods, including exercise, meditation, faith, and cognitive flexibility

MCAT Psych/Soc (23 decks)

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