Unit 10 & 11: Theories of emotions

Question 1

Whose works are biological studies on emotion based on?

Answer 1

Darwin

Question 2

What did Darwin say about emotions?

Answer 2

body movements and facial expressions related to emotions have adaptive value
some emotional expressions work contrary to what is required (e.g. laughter)

Question 3

Which areas are essential for experiencing emotions?

Answer 3

subcortical areas
-> basic adaptive processes found in subjects before full development of CNS
-> adaptive mechanisms in many animals

Question 4

Which relationship also influences emotions severely?

Answer 4

relationship between hemispheres

Question 5

Where has an impact on extrusion and emotional understanding been found?

Answer 5

lateral-ventral and anterior- posterior locations

Question 6

What are the two ways of studying emotions proposed by Borod and Madigan?

Answer 6

interhemispheric: laterally
intrahemispherc: anterior-posterior/ neocortical - subcortical

Question 7

Which functions did Palmero assign these structures? (Subcortical)

Answer 7

Processing of emotions
Preparation of emotional response

Question 8

What is the amygdala in contact with?

Answer 8

hippocampus and basal ganglia (important for memory and attention)
hypothalamus (control of homeostasis and neuroendocrine regulation)

Question 9

What is the amygdala involved in?

Answer 9

expressive emotional stimulation
possibly more general emotional processing function

Question 10

What does Damasio’s somatic marker hypothesis explain?

Answer 10

reasoning is influenced by neuronal functioning of areas associated with emotion

Question 11

What is the right hemisphere linked with?

Answer 11

body representation (proprioception, heat, pressure, etc.)

Question 12

Which distinction related to emotional expressions did Ekman propose?

Answer 12

involuntary/spontaneous: controlled by brainstem and limbic system
voluntary/ feigned: controlled by cortical brain

Question 13

The long route of the amygdala

Answer 13

more detailed & complex analysis of emotional information before generating response in amygdala

Question 14

The short route of the amygdala

Answer 14

faster but less elaborate emotional response
(information passes directly to amygdala with less processing)

Question 15

What is the nature of the connections of the amygdala and the cortical areas and what does that mean?

Answer 15

bidirectional
asymmetrical: broader from amygdala to cortex
-> potential inhibition of cortex as a very complex activity

Question 16

Thalamus, amygdala and sensory cortex

Answer 16

Thalamus activates amygdala and sensory cortex simultaneously
amygdala receives information from sensory cortex
amygdala sends projections to sensory cortex, influencing the processing of stimulation

Question 17

What is the short route of the amygdala necessary for?

Answer 17

amygdala can resolve forms of action before information arises from sensory cortex
-> rapid response the threatening stimuli
amygdala influences processing of cortical areas
-> acts as a filter

Question 18

What is the left hemisphere mainly responsible for?

Answer 18

controlling and modulating spontaneous emotional expression
regulating emotional responses

Question 19

What is the right hemisphere mainly responsible for?

Answer 19

automatic emotional expression
activation of ANS

Question 20

Zajonc said that emotion can occur without cognition. Why?

Answer 20

emotion is basic process, occurring in all animal species
emotions inevitable
difficult to alter
difficult to verbalize

Question 21

Affect-cognition interaction

Answer 21

assessment is prior and necessary for emotional process
understanding influence of thoughts helps understand how emotion is triggered or regulated

Question 22

What do assessment pathways (computed - bottom up) analyse?

Answer 22

significance of external stimuli and situations

Question 23

What do valuation pathways (reinstated - top to bottom) state?

Answer 23

we automatically reinstall/ reconstruct appraisals we made on something on previous occasions

Question 24

What is one way we categorize things?

Answer 24

based on prototypes:
similarities between apparent characteristics of an object and those of prototype
extent to which defining characteristics are met is established regardless of observable characteristics

Question 25

Associative processing

Answer 25

situations and events organized into subjective similarity and temporal contiguity they have with other events

Question 26

Rules-based processing

Answer 26

information and situations organized according to symbolic structures or established rules
-> useful to understand and categorize emotional information

Question 27

Preparation for immediate action (behavioral functions of emotions)

Answer 27

involves being ready to act quickly to emotionally significant situation
-> increased processing speed for efficient response

Question 28

Adaptive flexibility/ versatility (behavioral functions of emotions)

Answer 28

adapting consciously and flexibly to different emotional situations
adjusting emotional response

Question 29

What does Forgas’ affect infusion model state?

Answer 29

emotions influence how we process and remember information
-> simple/ closed strategies (memorization without understanding) -> emotions have less influence
-> open and flexible strategies (critical analysis) -> emotions have more effect