Limbic System Part 2 Flashcards
What are the three manifestations of emotional experiences?
ANS (visceral, BP for ex.), Behavioral (eg. facial expressions), Subjective feelings (drives, desires)
What parts of the brain are involved in emotional responsivity and expression?
prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal , vmPFC), anterior cingulate gyrus, insula, amygdala
What are feelings?
subjective experience of an emotional state based on active interpretations of physiological changes in the body
The physiological component of emotional experiences is mostly mediated by what nervous system?
the ANS
What does the insula do?
a viscerosensory cortex that maps internal body states for emotional awareness- gut feelings, temperature and pain senroy, feelings related to self (how do I feel? am i thirsty, hungry, tired….). integrates bodily states into higher-order emotions
What is the difference in function between the posterior and anterior insula?
the posterior insula assesses interoceptive and exteroceptive information on pain, temp, touch, etc. send it to the anterior insula for perception of those states. anterior insula is aided by ACC and PFC.
How do the insula and cingulate gyrus work together?
insula is the limbic sensory cortex for novel stimuli, while the cingulate processes motivations and actions generated by those emotions
anxiety disorders and fear conditioning are often associated with _________
hyperactivity of the insula
Empathy is mainly generated by:
anterior insula
How does empathy work?
observations of emotionally laden action generates an ‘as if’ construct that entails viscero-motor aspects of the emotion as if it were a first-hand experience. Requires the prediction of physiological reactions to a stimuli
What is the function of the amygdala?
cognitive-emotional interactions, consolidating them into memory- attention and intensity of interpersonal emotions.
Regulates visceral and behavioral responses to fear/anxiety
What are the three ascending and descending projections from the amygdala that contribute to affective attention?
- amygdala processes memory throughout the cortex (ascending projection)
- efferent projection to the visual cortex shape perception and awareness
- amygdala –>hypothalamus –>brainstem = descending pathway for physiological effects (ANS)
What are some visceral responses that the amygdala mediates in response to fear?
increased HR, dec salivation, stomach ulcers, vigilance, urination, defecation, startle resposes….
Why does the amygdala respond more to fearful/startled faces than angry faces?
because it is readily engaged in ambiguou circumstances that require vigilance and attention (What are they afraid/startled by?)
How does the amygdala maintain vigilance?
the amygdala activated the basal forebrain nuclei, increases acetyl choline that activates the cortex, particularly the sensory cortex
coupling of sounds with electric shock to generate responses from the amygdala is called….
classical/Pavlovian conditioning, utilizing emotional memory