Lecture 1 Flashcards

Question

(Neuro)biological research of aggressive behavior (end 19th century)

Answer 1

- Friederich Golz (1890) : Serenic effects of surgical ablation temporal lobe in extreme aggressive dogs. - Gottlieb Burkhardt (1892): Serenic effects of surgical ablation temporal and frontal cortex in 4 out of 6 agitated and neurotic schizophrenic patients.

Answer 2

Dramatic anti-aggressive effects after surgical removal of (parts of) the temporal lobe in cats and monkeys. Kluver-Bucy syndrome: 1. Social isolation 2. Sensory depression 3. Loss of initiative 4. Hypersexual 5. Enhanced food-intake

Answer 3

Various types: ranging from defense to attack Different forms of aggression are regulated differently by the brain. Androgens are important Predatory aggression: efficient, weak ANS Affective aggression: for show, strong ANS Amygdala is essentially involved: lesion studies (Pribram), electrical stimulation has opposite effect

Answer 4

From lesion studies it has become clear that the posterior hypothalamus is important for expression of anger. Electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus produced region- dependent effects: Stimulation of the medial hypothalamus causes affective aggression (threat attack). Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus causes predatory aggression.

Answer 5

› The stress response is by definition the behavioral physiological response to an uncontrollable and/or unpredictable stimulus. › Is the stress response an indicator of a stressor? › What is the difference between a stress response and an emotional response?

Answer 6

› Stress is currently defined as any actual or potential threat to homeostasis (adversity) › The term stress is used for both life-threatening situations and everyday minor challenges › The term stress became almost exclusively interpreted in terms of its negative consequences, i.e. maladaptation and disease vulnerability › Stress models are often ecologically irrelevant (mice do not get shock in nature in the way they do in a laboratory setting) › Circular reasoning: The presence of a physiological stress response is often used as an indicator of stress

Answer 7

social defeat stronger corticosterone response than footshock/swimming? Is the corticosterone response an accurate measure of stress?

Answer 8

higher corticosterone in social defeat than social victory

Answer 9

highest corticosterone response

Answer 10

- peak in the morning - Consider negative feedback (when high stress cort. level depends on activation of HPA axis)

Answer 11

› There is no difference in the magnitude of the ‘stress’ response between positive, rewarding situations (sexual behavior, aggressive behavior) and negative, aversive situations (restraint, social defeat). › Hedonic emotional valence of stimuli perhaps expressed in the termination of the ‘stress’ response. › Neuroendocrine ‘stress’ response signals novelty or saliency?

Answer 12

› Stressor ≠ HPA axis activation › Stressor ≠ Sympathetic activation › The HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system should be considered as systems involved in the physiological support of any behavior induced by any kind of intrinsic or extrinsic stimulus. › When is a stimulus a stressor? * controllability/predictability (Seligman & Weiss 1972)

Answer 13

Importance of control over situation (ability to impact/end stressor)

Answer 14

› Stress responsivity is not due to the physical characteristics of the stressor. › Stress responsivity is related to the psychological appraisal of the stressor in terms of its controllability and predictability. - stressdepends on degree of controllability and of how life threatening something is