Task 5 - Limbic system

Question 1

Systems activated when the brain detects emotionally charged stimuli (like pain etc.)

+ Function

Answer 1

• The endocrine system secretes & regulates hormones into the bloodstream that affect bodily tissues & the brain.
• The autonomic system mediates changes in the physiological control systems of the body (e.g. cardiovascular system & visceral organs and tissues in the body).
• The skeletal motor system mediates overt behaviors (e.g. freezing, fight- or-flight, facial expressions)

Question 2

William James’ peripheral feedback theory

Answer 2

• Emotionally competent stimuli processed in sensory systems are transmitted to motor cortex to produce emotional responses in the body.
• The cortical processing of this sensory feedback creates the subjective feeling that accompanies the emotion.

Question 3

Cannon-Bard central theory

Answer 3

• Sensory information is transmitted to the thalamus where it is relayed to both the hypothalamus & cortex.
• The hypothalamus evaluates the emotional qualities of the stimulus, and its descending connections to the brain stem & spinal cord create emotional responses.
• The thalamocortical pathways create conscious feelings

Question 4

Papez circuit

Answer 4

An extension of the Cannon-bard theory by adding additional anatomical specificity:
* Signals from the hypothalamus go first to the anterior thalamus and then to the cingulate cortex, where signals from the hypothalamus & sensory cortex converge. This convergence causes the conscious feelings that accompany emotions.
* The sensory cortex projects to both the cingulate cortex & the hippocampus, which in turn makes connections with the mammilla ry bodies of the hypothalamus,
* completing the loop.

Question 5

Voluntary facial paresis

Answer 5

Patients with unilateral facial paralysis due to damage of descending pathways from the motor cortex have considerable difficulties moving their lower facial muscles on one side, both voluntarily or in response to commands.

Question 6

Emotional facial paresis

Answer 6

In this condition, the opposite happens: patients cannot express emotions
with facial muscle movements, but can control the facial muscles voluntarily (i.e. they can produce pyramidal smiles, but not Duchenne smiles)

Question 7

Duchenne smile

Answer 7

Facial expression that constitutes a spontaneous (emotional) smile

Question 8

Pyramidal smile

Answer 8

A forced smile