Limbic System Flashcards
What are the core ideas to the biological approach to depression?
The biological approach to explaining aggression involves three core areas: neural, hormonal, and genetic explanations.
Name and explain the neural explanation to aggression.
The main neural explanation for aggression is the Papez-Maclean limbic theory. It implicates structures like the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus in reactive aggression, which is a response to perceived threats.
What is reactive vs proactive aggression?
Reactive aggression is a response to a perceived threat, while proactive aggression is a response in anticipation of a reward.
What is the role of the limbic system?
The limbic system plays a key role in how an organism responds to environmental threats and challenges, influencing whether we respond aggressively to external stimuli.
What is the limbic system also connected to and what do they do?
The limbic system connects to the cingulate gyrus, responsible for focusing attention on emotionally significant events. It also has connections to the prefrontal cortex, involved in forward planning and anticipation of reward.
What role does the hypothalamus play in aggressive responses?
The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system, which, in turn, controls responses to emotional circumstances. Damage to this area can result in inappropriate aggressive responses to perceived threats.
What is the amygdala responsible for?
The amygdala is responsible for attaching emotional significance to sensory information, influencing the organism’s response to environmental stimuli.
How is the limbic system structured?
The limbic system is hierarchical, with signals passed from lower to higher systems in the prefrontal cortex.
