Neuroscience and Emotion Flashcards
What is MacLean’s Triune Brain Theory?
- MacLean stated that the human brain consists of 3 biological computers (3 brains), each corresponding to a different stage in evolution
- Neo-mammalian complex: only found in higher mammals like primates –> is the thinking/ cognitive brain
- Paleo mammalian complex: found in all mammals refers to macleans limbic system
- Reptillian complex: found in all vertebrates and is responsible for primitive drives (sex, feeding, aggression)
what is the WADA procedure and what does it prove?
A drug is injected into a cartid artery.
- proves that LH damage: brings up catastrophic behaviour and
- RH damage brings up euphoric behaviour
What is the Valence hypothesis?
- RH: negative emotions and withdrawal behaviour
- LH: positive emotions and approach behaviour
What does the RH Hypothesis state?
states that the RH is dominant for emotional functions
- critiques: often only negative emotions
- more voluntary than spontaneous emotions tested.
What does the right hemisphere do?
- controls of left side of body
- input from left visual field
- input from left ear
- spatial abilities
- recognises patterns
- recognition of faces
- recognition of sounds
What does the Left hemisphere do?
- controls right side of body
- input from right visual field
- input from right ear
- language abilities
- analysis of details
- recognition of words
- recognition of speech
High BIS and Low BIS
High BIS: anxiety disorders
low BIS: psychopathic disorders
High BAS and Low BAS
High BAS: impulsivity disorders, mania, addictions
Low BAS: depressive disorders
What is the behavioural activation system?
BAS relates to positive outcomes and reward behaviour. triggers approach behaviour when potential rewards are present
What is the behavioural inhibition system?
BIS relates to the negative associations, innate fear stimuli, interrupts behaviour and prepares for potential threat –> fight or flight response
What does the theory of Jeffrey Gray’s state
States that there area 2 dimensions of personality
- Split up into BIS and BAS
- differentiates between positive and negative affect
According to Eysenck what are extroverts like?
stimulant drugs like caffein improve performance and may perform better with background noises
According to Eysenck what are introverts like?
stimulant drugs like caffein impair performance are more distracted by background noise and produce more saliva when lemon juice is placed on tongue
Elaborate on Hans Eysenck’s Neuroticism
N: measures emotionality, moodiness, anxiety and depression
Elaborate on Hans Eysenck’s Extraversion
E: measured by questionnaires, items relating to sociability and liveliness
- High E: Extrovert
- Low E: Introvert
What is the difference between states and traits?
- Emotion and mood are affective states that have a limited duration
- personality and temperament are traits that are predispositions to what we think, feel, behave and act like
- traits are temporally stable
- Gordon Allport was one of the first to publish texts on personality traits
Name some facts about Psychopathy
Psychopaths show a lack of empathy towards others and do not consider their own future
- perform poorly on Iowa gambling task
- perform poorly in Moral dilemma problems
- less amygdala activity when viewing negative emotional stimulus
- can also be acquired through frontal lobe damage
What are the effects of PFC damage?
- social and emotional deficits
- effects on personality, behaviour,
- problems with decision making, planning and organising
- E.g. Phineas Gage (1848) and Patient EVR (aka. Elliot)
- flattened affect occurs
- poor performance on Iowa Gambling Task
What is Backward masking?
The brief presenting of a threatening or non threatening image followed immediately by a masked stimulus
- no conscious awareness of image but can still trigger SCR (Skin Conductance response)
What are the 2 pathways to the Amygdala?
- “low road”: Thalamus–> to the amygdala:
- fast response, “quick and dirty”,
- but limited processing - “high road”: sensory cortex to amygdala:
- longer and slower to trigger response,
- more detailed processing
What does the Cannon-Bard theory say?
The Cannon-Bard theory states that emotional stimuli are processed by the thalamus which then sends signals along 2 pathways
Thalamus –> Cortex : experience of emotion
Thalamus –> hypothalamus : ANS activity and emotional reactions
What does the James Lange theory say?
The James Lange theory states that the perception of physiological changes results in the experience of emotion
NOT: Stimulus –> feeling fear –> ANS activity
BUT: Stimulus –> ANS activity –> feeling fear
What is the direct pathway and how does it relate to Parkinson’s disease?
- The Substantia Nigra affects the Putamen which then leads to transient inhibtion of the golubs pallidus (internal) - which then leads to tonic inhibtion of the thalamus - which then leads to lesser excitation at the cerebal cortex –> less movement
- Parkinsons is a hypokinetic disease –> less movement
- Parkinsons is the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra
What does the Basal Ganglia consist of?
SPS
Striatum: Caudate and Putamen
Pallidum: Globus pallidus and Substantia Nigra
Subthamalic Nucleus
