Recitation Week 13 Flashcards
For amygdala sensory inputs, after the sensory stimuli, what are the main brain regions activated?
1) Thalamus
2) Brainstem
The brainstem only sends its signal forward in this process to which brain region?
1) basolateral amygdala
NOTE: it also receives signals from the basolateral amygdala
The thalamus activates or sends its signal forward to two brain regions, what are they?
1) to the primary sensory cortices
2) basolateral amygdala
The primary sensory cortices receive their signals from the thalamus, and send it on to what brain region?
1) the association cortices, including the:
-OFC
-mPFC
The association cortices, particularly the OFC and mPFC send their signals to two brain regions, one of which it gets feedback connections from. What are those two brain regions and which of those does it get communication back from?
1) hippocampus
2) basolateral amygdala
It is the basolateral amygdala that it has feedforward and feedback connections to
Of those feedforward and feedback connections, what types of processes are happening and in what direction?
1) the primary sensory cortices have conscious feelings towards the basolateral amygdala
2) the basolateral amygdala sends Behavioral selection processes to the primary sensory cortices
In this whole process, where does the hippocampus have input connections to?
The basolateral amygdala
Where do the main outputs of the amygdala start from?
the central amygdala, not the medial group or basolateral group
The central amygdala/group has 4 main outputs, what are they?
1) hippocampus
2) hypothalamus
3) neocortex
4) ventral basal ganglia (voluntary smile)
Of those four outputs, which are associated with semantic thought, conscious feelings and emotional thoughts?
1) hippocampus (semantic thoughts)
2) neocortex (conscious feelings)
both of those contribute to emotional thoughts
of the four outputs, which of those lead to a somatic response, and what are their projections?
1) hypothalamus -> SNS -> somatic response
2) hypothalamus -> HPA axis -> somatic response
Does the hypothalamus have any other outputs in this process?
Yes, to the thalamus
Which of the hypothalamic outputs lead to the Duchenne smile?
None - they contribute directly to the Duchenne smile
When dealing with aggression, there are two types, what are they?
1) predatory aggression
2) affective aggression
which of those two activates the SNS more?
affective aggression
which area of the amygdala is most thought to be associated with aggression?
medial amygdala
what other brain region is thought to be associated with aggression?
the hypothalamus
are there any other brain regions associated with aggression besides the amygdala and hypothalamus?
1) OFC
2) ACC
3) PFC (regulation/brakes on aggression)
which specific regions are affected in the hypothalamus in terms of aggression, and what types?
1) Medial hypothalamus - affective aggression
2) Lateral hypothalamus - predatory aggression
3) Posterior hypothalamus - sham rage
also activating the VMN of the hypothalamus is often associated with aggression
Does the hypothalamus have any other role in this neural circuit?
Yes, it can affect the PAG (threats/defensive behaviors +/-) and VTA (social/environmental cues)
NOTE: stimulating VMN < aggression
In the Social Behavioral Network, what is the potential neural circuit involved in aggression?
PFC -> Amygdala (medial): two pathways
1 -> VMN of the hypothalamus + AHN
2 -> PAG + VTA -> this pathway leads to aggressive behavior
Are there any other models or things which can regulate aggression?
Yes, 5HT
< 5 HT = > aggression
5 HT 1B agonists < aggression
5 HT 1B antagonists > aggression
What constitutes the ‘low road’ pathway of emotion?
1) sensory info -> 2) thalamus -> 3) amygdala (bypasses conscious processes) for immediate response (i.e. fear)
What constitutes the ‘high road’ pathway of emotion?
1) sensory info -> 2 thalamus -> 3) cortex (higher processes) -> 4) amygdala (slower process, allows more conscious involvement)
