Lecture 10: emotion

Question 1

components and basics of emotion

What are the three core components of emotion?

Answer 1

1. subjective experience (feelings)
   2.Physiological patterns (e.g., heart rate, sweating).
2. Behavioral responses (e.g., facial expressions, actions)

Question 2

What is the role of the limbic system in emotions?

Answer 2

The limbic system is an evolutionary-old, universal system responsible for emotion processing. It supports adaptive interactions with the environment but is not the only brain system involved in emotion.

Question 3

How are emotions observed across species?

Answer 3

Emotions like terror, disappointment, and hostility are observed in humans and animals, supporting Darwin’s idea of innate basic emotions shared across species.

Question 4

Basic emotions and Ekmans criteria

What are the six basic emotions identified by Ekman?

Answer 4

1. Anger
2. Fear
3. Sadness
4. Disgust
5. Happiness
6. Surprise

Question 5

What criteria did Ekman use to define basic emotions?

Answer 5

Distinctive universal signals.
Presence in other primates.
Distinctive physiology and universal triggers.
Rapid onset, brief duration, automatic appraisal, and unbidden occurrence.

Question 6

What additional criteria did Ekman propose in 1999 for basic emotions?

Answer 6

Developmental appearance, distinct thoughts, memories, images, and subjective experiences unique to each emotion.

Question 7

Theories of emotion

What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?

Answer 7

Emotions arise from physiological arousal:
Stimulus → Physiological response → Emotion.

Question 8

What is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion?

Answer 8

Emotional and physiological responses occur simultaneously but independently:
Stimulus → Thalamus → Emotion + Physiological response.

Question 9

How does the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory explain emotion?

Answer 9

Emotions depend on two factors:

Physiological arousal.
Cognitive interpretation of that arousal.

Question 10

What is an example supporting the two-factor theory?

Answer 10

Arousal after a roller coaster may be labeled as excitement or fear, depending on the context.

Question 11

Amygdala and emotion

What are the main divisions of the amygdala, and their roles?

Answer 11

Basolateral complex: Connects to the striatum to control actions in response to threats.
Centromedial complex: Controls innate emotional behaviors via connections to the brainstem.
Cortical nucleus: Involved in olfaction.

Question 12

What is Klüver-Bucy syndrome, and what does it illustrate about emotion?

Answer 12

Bilateral removal of the anterior temporal lobes causes symptoms like hypersexuality, lack of fear, and inappropriate behaviors, demonstrating the temporal lobes’ role in emotional regulation.

Question 13

Fear learning in and the amygdala

How does the amygdala contribute to fear learning?

Answer 13

The amygdala associates stimuli with threats, forming conditioned fear responses via classical conditioning (e.g., pairing a tone with a shock).

Question 14

What are the two pathways in LeDoux’s theory of emotion processing?

Answer 14

1. High road: Cortex-mediated, slower, detailed emotional evaluation.
2. Low road: Subcortical, fast, direct via the thalamus to the amygdala.

Question 15

What evidence supports LeDoux’s theory of the low road?

Answer 15

Humans react faster to emotional stimuli (e.g., threats) than neutral stimuli, and the amygdala processes threat signals even without cortical input.

Question 16

What is affective blindsight, and what does it reveal?

Answer 16

Patients with visual cortex damage can still respond to emotional stimuli subconsciously, showing alternate pathways for emotion processing.

Question 17

Emotion and Learning

How does emotion influence learning, as shown in fear conditioning studies?

Answer 17

Emotional tagging by the amygdala enhances memory consolidation for events with emotional significance.

Question 18

What role does the amygdala play in instructed fear?

Answer 18

The amygdala generates physiological fear responses to learned associations, even without direct experience.

Question 19

Amygdala and Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

What is emotional tagging, and how does it impact memory?

Answer 19

Emotional tagging by the amygdala retroactively enhances memory consolidation for neutral events linked to later emotional experiences.

Question 20

How does emotional arousal affect the hippocampus and memory?

Answer 20

Emotional arousal strengthens hippocampal plasticity, making memories of emotionally significant events more durable.

Question 21

Stress and emotion

How does stress affect memory and emotion?

Answer 21

Acute stress can enhance memory.

Chronic stress impairs memory and emotion regulation by damaging the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Question 22

What role does cortisol play in emotional memory?

Answer 22

Cortisol modulates the amygdala and hippocampus, influencing memory consolidation and emotional responses.

Question 23

The Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) and Emotion

What is the role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in emotion?

Answer 23

The OFC integrates emotional signals into decision-making, linking past experiences with current choices.

Question 24

What is the somatic marker hypothesis?

Answer 24

Proposed by Damasio, it suggests that bodily (somatic) emotional states guide decision-making by signaling the potential consequences of actions.

Question 25

What evidence supports Damasio’s somatic marker hypothesis?

Answer 25

Patients with OFC damage fail tasks like the Iowa Gambling Task, where emotional cues guide advantageous decisions.

Question 26

Who was Patient S.P., and what does her case reveal about emotion?

Answer 26

Patient S.P. had bilateral amygdala damage and could not recognize fearful facial expressions. Despite understanding other emotions, her inability to process fear highlights the amygdala's critical role in fear perception.

Question 27

How does the Iowa Gambling Task demonstrate the role of emotion in decision-making?

Answer 27

Participants choose between risky and safe decks. Healthy individuals learn to avoid risky decks, while patients with OFC damage fail to use emotional feedback for advantageous decisions.

Question 28

How does the amygdala interact with the OFC in decision-making?

Answer 28

The amygdala provides emotional signals (e.g., fear or reward anticipation), while the OFC integrates these signals to guide complex decision-making.

Question 29

What is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in emotion?

Answer 29

The ACC monitors conflicts and errors, helping to regulate emotional responses and mediate decision-making under uncertainty.

Question 30

Facial Expressions and Emotional Processing What is the role of the fusiform gyrus in emotion?

Answer 30

The fusiform gyrus, particularly the fusiform face area (FFA), processes facial features, enabling recognition of emotional expressions.

Question 31

How does the amygdala process facial expressions of fear?

Answer 31

The amygdala detects subtle fear signals, even when faces are presented briefly or peripherally, enhancing survival through rapid threat detection.

Question 32

What is the relationship between facial expressions and cultural norms?

Answer 32

While basic emotions are universal, the intensity and context of emotional expressions vary across cultures due to display rules.

Question 33

Stress and Emotion Regulation What is the relationship between stress and emotion regulation?

Answer 33

Acute stress can enhance emotional focus, while chronic stress impairs regulation by weakening the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Question 34

How does the HPA axis contribute to stress responses?

Answer 34

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis releases cortisol in response to stress, preparing the body for action while influencing emotional processing.

Question 35

How does cortisol affect memory consolidation for emotional events?

Answer 35

Moderate cortisol levels enhance memory consolidation by strengthening connections between the amygdala and hippocampus.

Question 36

How does chronic stress damage the brain?

Answer 36

Chronic stress increases amygdala activity but reduces the volume and function of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, impairing memory and emotion regulation.

Question 37

Emotion and Learning What is the role of the amygdala in classical conditioning?

Answer 37

The amygdala associates neutral stimuli with emotional outcomes, forming conditioned responses (e.g., pairing a tone with a shock).

Question 38

How does emotional learning differ in extinction versus conditioning?

Answer 38

Conditioning: Strengthens the association between a stimulus and emotion. Extinction: Weakens this association by repeated exposure without reinforcement.

Question 39

What brain areas are involved in extinction learning?

Answer 39

The prefrontal cortex suppresses amygdala activity, while the hippocampus tracks the context of extinction.

Question 39

How does emotional tagging enhance memory?

Answer 39

Emotional arousal activates the amygdala, which prioritizes emotionally significant events for consolidation in the hippocampus.

Question 40

What evidence shows the amygdala’s role in emotional memory enhancement?

Answer 40

Amygdala lesions reduce the memory advantage for emotional events compared to neutral ones.

Question 41

Emotion, Attention, and Perception How does emotion influence attention?

Answer 41

Emotional stimuli, such as faces or threatening objects, capture attention more effectively, leading to faster processing and enhanced focus.

Question 42

What is the attentional blink, and how is it affected by emotion?

Answer 42

The attentional blink is a failure to detect the second target in a rapid visual sequence. Emotional words reduce the blink, showing enhanced processing of emotionally salient stimuli.

Question 43

How does the amygdala influence sensory processing?

Answer 43

The amygdala modulates activity in early sensory cortices, enhancing the detection of emotionally relevant stimuli.

Question 45

Social and Moral Emotions What are examples of moral emotions, and why are they significant?

Answer 45

Examples include guilt, shame, and pride. These emotions reinforce social norms, guide ethical behavior, and promote cooperation.

Question 45

hat brain regions are critical for moral emotions?

Answer 45

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and temporoparietal junction (TPJ) are involved in perspective-taking and evaluating social and moral contexts.

Question 46

Cultural and Individual Differences How do cultures differ in emotional expression and regulation?

Answer 46

Individualistic cultures emphasize expressiveness, while collectivistic cultures value emotional restraint and prioritize group harmony.

Question 47

What are individual differences in emotional reactivity influenced by?

Answer 47

Genetics (e.g., serotonin transporter gene), early experiences, and temperament all shape how individuals react emotionally to stimuli.

Question 48

Emotion in Disorders How is emotion processing affected in depression?

Answer 48

Depression is associated with reduced reward sensitivity in the ventral striatum and increased amygdala activity for negative stimuli.

Question 49

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in anxiety disorders?

Answer 49

Reduced prefrontal activity leads to impaired regulation of amygdala-driven fear responses, contributing to heightened anxiety.

Question 50

How does PTSD affect emotional processing?

Answer 50

PTSD involves hyperactive amygdala responses and impaired prefrontal regulation, leading to heightened fear and intrusive emotional memories.

Question 51

Emotion and Memory Integration How do emotions enhance memory retrieval?

Answer 51

Emotional arousal reactivates the amygdala, improving the recall of emotionally salient events, especially under stress.