History of the Limbic System

Question 1

What is James-Lange’s theory of emotion?

Answer 1

Result of brain receiving feedback from body

Different emotions for different bodily changes

Question 2

What are Cannon’s 4 criticisms of James-Lange’s theory of emotion?

Answer 2

Bodily changes too slow and non-specific for different emotions
Bodily changes not needed for emotional behaviour
Disconnect cortex - emotional displays intact
Disconnect hypothalamus - less coordinated emotional response

Question 3

What is Cannon-Bard’s theory of emotion?

Answer 3

Thalamus responsible for emotional responses to stimuli

Feeling and bodily response independent - feeling from cerebral cortex, bodily response from hypothalamus

Question 4

What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome and what are the symptoms?

Answer 4

Bilateral temporal lobectomy

Visual defects, oral tendencies, emotional behaviour changes (hypersexuality, hypoemotionality)

Question 5

What are the components of MacLean’s triune brain and what are their functions?

Answer 5

Neomammalian (neocortex) - thinking
Paleo-mammalian (limbic system) - social emotions
Reptillian (basal ganglia) - innate behaviour - fixed motor plans for fear, aggression, sexuality

Question 6

What are the two accounts of the purpose of motivation?

Answer 6

Homeostatic - satisfy basic drive - older approach

Affective - feel good with certain actions, bad with others - modern approach

Question 7

What is Laurenz’s drive reduction theory of motivation?

Answer 7

Cause of motivated behaviour
Interaction between internal ‘drive reservoir’ and external stimuli
Drive reservoir full - relevant stimuli more readily open outflow valve - motivated to perform action to satisfy drive

Question 8

What is the Crespi effect?

Answer 8

Rats run down path to reward at end - running speed relative to reward value
Sudden reward increased - run faster on first trial after increased despite never reinforced for faster speed
Goal expectation - against behaviourist approach

Question 9

What is the incentive motivation theory of motivation?

Answer 9

Primary reinforcers (US) innately 'liked' or 'disliked'
With Pavlovian conditioning learn to 'like' cues predicting reward (CS) - become secondary reinforcers - now carry hedonic value
Internal cues modulate incentive value of rewards