Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms - Neural Mechanisms Flashcards
What system is an example of a neural mechanism?
The limbic system.
Where is the limbic system found?
In the central core of the brain.
What does the location of the limbic system tell us?
It is the primitive, instinctual part of the brain.
What is the limbic system made from?
3 structures.
What are the three structures the limbic system is made from?
Hypothalamus.
Hippocampus.
Amygdala.
In what order to the three structures of the limbic system take action?
1 - Hypothalamus.
2 - Hippocampus.
3 - Amygdala.
What is the first thing that happens in the limbic system?
The hypothalamus notices a change in the environment.
What is the hypothalamus responsible for?
So in the context of the limbic system?
Step one, two or three?
Body regulation/ basic function.
Noticing a change in the environment.
Step 1.
What is the second thing that happens in the limbic system?
The hippocampus checks if you have encountered this ‘thing’ before.
What is the hippocampus responsible for?
So in the context of the limbic system?
Step one, two or three?
LTM, episodic memories.
Checking if you have encountered this ‘thing’ before.
Step 2.
What are episodic memories?
Personal memories, they happened to you.
What is the third thing that happens in the limbic system?
The amygdala help you to react, or not.
What is the amygdala responsible for?
So in the context of the limbic system?
Step one, two or three?
Emotional response - control of aggression.
Reacting, or not.
Step 3.
If you’re hippocampus recalls the ‘thing’ as being a threat before, will you amygdala emit a response?
If it wasn’t a threat before?
If you have not encoded it before?
Yes.
No.
Weary.
If you have a problem will your limbic system, what will you have a problem with?
Agression.
If you have a problem with aggression, what have you a problem with?
Your limbic system.
If you have a problem with your hypothalamus, what will be the result?
You will be brain dead.
What is the study that has been done looking into problems with the hypothalamus?
There have been none, as the patient will be brain dead.
If you have a problem with the hippocampus, what will be the result?
You will likely be very aggressive.
What is a study that has been done looking into a problem with the hippocampus?
Clive Wearing Case Study.
Showed the the episodic memories are deffo in hippocampus as he was really aggressive.
He doesn’t recall every meeting anything before, so everything is treated as a threat.
If you have a problem with your amygdala, what will the be result?
You will likely be very aggressive.
What is the study that has been done looking into a problem with the amygdala?
Pardini’s recent (2014) longitudinal study.
Negative correlation between volume of amygdala and higher levels of violence.
Therefore, reduced amygdala volume an predict severe and persistent aggression.
What are the 4 evaluation points for the neural mechanisms explanation?
Low level reductionist.
Biological determinism.
Alpha androcentric gender bias.
Nature only (needs interactionist approach).
The neural mechanisms explanation is low level reductionist, what would be more appropriate?
A holistic approach.
How is the neural mechanisms explanation for aggression an example of biological determinism?
There is no free will involved.
What study can be used that shows an alpha androcentric gender bias within the neural mechanisms explanation for aggression?
Pardini.
What is another neural influence that affects aggression?
Serotonin.
The more serotonin you have, are you more or less aggressive?
More relaxed = less aggressive.
But at a point, you hit a wall and it can make you more aggressive.
Because of the unclear pattern of serotonin levels linking to aggression levels, what is unclear?
The exact role serotonin plays in aggression is unclear.
What will be the effects of having a low level of, a overly high level of and a medium level of serotonin?
Low level = Aggressive.
Overly high level = Aggressive.
Medium level = Not aggressive.
What studies can be used to show evidence for levels of serotonin playing a role in aggression levels?
Monkey studies.
What specific monkey study can be used to show evidence for levels of serotonin playing a role in aggression levels?
Vervet monkeys fed diets high in tryptophan which raises serotonin levels, they exhibited lower levels of aggression.
