Social neuroscience Flashcards
what is an issue with only studying behaviour
having to make assumptions about underlying processes
-self-reports contain social desirability issues
what is TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
how does TMS work
Uses a magnetic coil to induce voltage - can deactivate areas of the cortex
what can TMS do
Clarifies roles of areas of the cortex in addiction
what is TDS
Transcranial direct stimulation
how does TDS work
Cathode decreases activity in one brain area, and anode adds activity to specific area
what can TDS do
Can boost memory, focus, energy and vigilance
what is MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
how does MRI work
Measure the radio frequency waves by hydrogen atoms when they are subjected to a strong magnetic field
what does MRI produce
Gives detailed structure of the brain, but not the parts that are active
what is a functional MRI
- Indirectly measures brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow that accompany brain activity
Measures activation of brain regions during tasks or after perceiving stimuli
what response does fMRI measure
BOLD - blood oxygen level dependent
what is EEG
Electroencephalogram
what does EEG do
Records combined activity from many neurons using electrodes
what is EEG good for
Good temporal resolution, instant neuronal activity
what is a limitation of EEG
Poor spatial resolution, does not indicate specific brain areas
What is EEG usually used to measure
detect changes in emotions, motivations or arousal
how is dehumanisation explained by brain activity
Brain does not encode them as human beings
severs empathetic bonds people usually have in response to one another
how is dehumanisation measured socially
Social groups rated from 0 (least human) to 100(Most human)
what is the FFA
fusiform face area
what does the FFA do
Located in temporal lobe
Processed information about faces
what does damage to the FFA do
causes inability to recognise faces, shapes and objects
how do we measure motivation
Differences in activity between the left and right frontal lobes
what does greater left lobe activity indicate
approach (reward)
what does greater right lobe activity indicate
avoidance (inhibition)
what is the role of the automatic nervous system
Controls smooth muscles e.g. stomach, blood vessels and heart
Involuntary movements
what stimulates the fight or flight response
hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis
what does the HPA axis do
Hormones released into bloodstream from pituitary gland
Stimulates hormone release in adrenal glands
what type of hormones are released from the pituitary gland
neuropeptides
what hormone is released from the adrenal glands
cortisol
what does cortisol do
- Promotes release of glucose
- Inhibits the release of insulin
Narrows arteries
what is the effect of narrowing arteries
increases blood pressure
what causes an increase in heart rate
release of epinepherine
what can extend the release of cortisol
chronic stress
what are the effects of extended cortisol release
- Supresses immune system
- Digestion
- Sexual dysfunction
Cardiovascular disease
name the different cardiovascular measures
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Impedance cardiography (ICG)
Blood pressure (BP)
how do electrocardiograms work
electrodes capture depolarisation of ventricles
what do electrocardiograms measure
heart rate (amount of R points per min)
heart rate variability (distance between R points)
what does impendence cardiography do
estimates changes in blood flow in the heart
based on stroke volume
how does ICG work
electrodes placed on heart
outer sensors = electrical current
inner sensors = detect resistance
volume increase indicated by increased resistance
what is systolic blood pressure
-peak arterial pressure
-based on amount of effort
what is diastolic blood pressure
-lowest arterial pressure
-resting pressure
challenge versus threat
challenge = Resources exceed demand of stressor
threat = Demands of stressor exceed resources
