The social and emotional brain Flashcards
Emotion
A state associated with stimuli that are rewarding (i.e., that one works to obtain) or punishing (i.e., that one works to avoid). These stimuli often have an inherent survival value.
Mentalizing
The process of inferring or attributing mental states to others.
Mirroring
The process of sharing the emotions or mental states of others.
Mood
An emotional state that is extended over time (e.g., anxiety is a mood and fear is an emotion).
Expression
External motor outcomes in the face and body associated with emotional states.
James-Lange theory
The self-perception of bodily changes produces emotional experience (e.g., one is sad because one cries).
Cannon-Bard theory
Theory centered on the hypothalamus’ role in emotions in which bodily responses occur after the emotion itself.
Papez circuit
A limbic-based circuit that was once thought to constitute a largely undifferentiated ‘‘emotional’’ brain.
Basic emotions
Different categories of emotions assumed to be independent of culture and with their own biological basis (in terms of evolution and neural substrate).
Moral emotions
Emotions that are related to the behavior of oneself (in relation to others) or the behavior of others (in relation to oneself or others).
Amygdala
Part of the limbic system, implicated in learning the emotional value of stimuli (e.g., in fear conditioning).
Kluver-Bucy syndrome
In monkeys after bilateral amygdala and temporal lesions, an unusual tameness and emotional blunting; a tendency to examine objects with the mouth; and dietary changes.
Skin conductance response (SCR)
Changes in electrical conductivity on a person’s skin, triggered by certain stimuli (e.g., emotional or familiar stimuli).
Insula
A region of cortex buried beneath the temporal lobe; involved in body perception and contains the primary gustatory cortex; responds to disgust.
Interoception
A sensory system for monitoring the internal state of the body (e.g., heart rate).
Extinction learning
Learning that a previously rewarded stimulus is no longer rewarded.
Ventral striatum
Part of the basal ganglia that includes the nucleus accumbens; involved in a ‘‘limbic circuit’’ connecting the orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus.
Conspecific
Other members of the same species.
Simulation theory
The theory that we come to understand others (their emotions, actions, mental states) by vicariously producing their current state in ourselves.
Social referencing
The emotional response of another person may lead to avoidance or interaction with a previously neutral stimulus.
Capgras syndrome
People report that their acquaintances (spouse, family, friends and so on) have been replaced by ‘‘body doubles.’’
Theory of mind
The ability to represent the mental states of others (e.g., their beliefs, desires, intentions).
Empathy
The ability to appreciate others’ point of view and share their experiences.
Mirror systems
Neural circuits or regions that disregard the distinction between self and other.
Autism
The presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication, and a markedly restricted repetoire of activities and interests.
Asperger syndrome
A variant of autism linked to normal to high intelligence.
False belief
A belief that differs from one’s own belief and that differs from the true state of the world.
Broken-mirror theory
An account of autism in which the social difficulties are considered as a consequence of mirror-system dysfunction.
Mu oscillations
EEG oscillations at 8-13 Hz over the sensorimotor cortex that are greatest when participants are at rest.
