Lecture 6: emotion and social cognition Flashcards
Primary and secondary emotions
Primary emotions are triggered in response to an event and secondary emotions are more complex and interpretative emotions (jealousy, passion etc.)
BUT: emotions are culturally biased and depend on the cultures display rules of emotions.
Dimensional model of emotions (Russell)
There are overarching dimensions that combine to form specific emotions depending on the:
- Valence: positive / negative colouring of emotions.
- Arousal: activity level (sleepy / active).
- Dominance or relaxation / attention (less used).
Neurobiology of emotions
- Arousal is regulated in the brainstem.
- Evaluation networks are located in the frontal lobe.
- The core or the emotional processing happens in the limbic system.
The amygdala as part of the limbic system (emotional processing)
- Has dense connections to the hypothalamus, thalamus, nucleus accumbens and other regions.
- Regulates emotional responses of fear, anxiety and aggression.
- Regulates emotional colouring of learning and memory.
- Important for decision-making.
–> Stimulation of the amygdala leads to more aggressive and sexual behaviour in animals..
–> Humans with lesions to the amygdala fail to show a fear response.
LeDoux’s two-route model
There are 2 ways of emotional processing:
1. Short route: direct, pre-attentive pathway that goes directly to the amygdala.
2. Long route: includes cognitive appraisal, frontal and temporal structures, potential for top-down regulation and learning.
Process model of emotion regulation
- Situation selection
- Situation modification
- Attentional deployment
- Cognitive change
- Response modulation
! Reappraisal is more effective than suppression!
Social cognition
The ability to understand and adapt to social situations (social competence). There are 3 stages to this:
1. Perception: recognising emotions.
2. Interpretation: assigning meaning.
3. Reaction: select the fitting behaviour.
SOCIAL-model (socio-cognitive integration of abilities)
Model of social competence from a developmental perspective. Makes a distinction between actual abilities and what might affect them. You need the right brain development, integrity, internal factors, external factors, social skills etc. to function normally emotionally.
Disorders in social cognition
One or more of the 4 criteria:
1. Poor social perception
2. Impaired theory of mind
3. Reduced social behaviour
4. Abnormal social behaviour
(It should be distinguished from other impairments and core diagnostic criteria for bvFTD or ASD.)
Behavior regulations consists of positive vs. negative behaviors
- Positive behaviors: added behavioral symptoms (aggression, outbursts etc.).
- Negative behaviors: absent of healthy behaviors (apathy, avoiding contact, lack of social drive etc.)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Very variable in symptoms. Diagnosis is based on behaviors instead on biological markers:
- Communication problems: atypical speech development, lack of eye contact.
- Repetitive behaviour: flapping, spinning, head banging.
- Difficulty with changing routine.
- Altered sensory perception: overstimulation or focus on specific stimulation.
- Social cognition, TOM problems.
Neuro-correlates of social cognition
Social functions are highly complex and there are many brain regions involved. Separate elements of social cognition depend on different brain areas. The influence of genetics and biomarkers are likely different for different social cognition conditions.
Social cognition tests
- Sally-Anne test: measures TOM in people with suspected autism.
- FEEST: Facial expression of emotions test. “What is the correct thing to do in this social situation.”
- TASIT: The Awareness of Social Interference Test.
- ERT: Emotion Recognition Test
- Social Scene Perception Eye tracking.
- Biomarkers: like the Galvanic skin response.
- Emotional Apraxia Face reading
