VOC - Emotion

Question 1

How many basic emotions are there?

Answer 1

6 Emotions:

• Fear
• Anger
• Joy
• Sadness
• Surprise
• Disgust

Question 2

How does language reflect the complexity of emotions?

Answer 2

Languages have words for a vast array of emotions beyond basic ones. Words like “gezelligheit” (cozy conviviality) and “wanderlust” (strong desire to travel) showcase the richness of human emotional experience

Question 3

How can we define emotions for scientific study? (4)

Answer 3

Emotions are complex states involving:

• Conscious experience (feelings).
• Physiological changes (e.g., heart rate, breathing).
• Behavioral responses (e.g., facial expressions, actions).
• Modification of feeling states and influencing behavior.

Question 4

What is the evolutionary purpose of emotions? (2)

Answer 4

Emotions evolved to provide an advantage

• Fear motivates avoidance of danger (e.g., fleeing a lion).
• Positive emotions can promote behaviors like seeking mates (romantic love).

Question 5

How does the brain process emotional responses? (7)

Answer 5

Emotional Stimuli → Sensory systems→ Emotion systems → Hypothalamus and brain stem → Spinal cord and autonomic ganglia → Effector cells → Emotional responses

Question 6

What is the role of the diencephalon in emotional expression?

Answer 6

Studies involving transecting the forebrain suggest the diencephalon (including the hypothalamus) plays a central role in expressing emotions like fear

Question 7

How do emotional cues and evolutionary cues interact?

Answer 7

The reticular system integrates emotional cues (e.g., a threat) with evolutionary cues (e.g., danger) to trigger appropriate responses

Question 8

How do higher brain centers influence emotional expression? (2)

Answer 8

Higher brain centers modulate emotional responses through:

• Distinct motor pathways for movement and emotional expression (body language).
• Activating motor neurons or the autonomic nervous system.

Question 9

How does the amygdala contribute to emotional processing? (6)

Answer 9

The amygdala is a highly connected brain region crucial for emotions. It interacts with:

• Brainstem
• Hypothalamus
• Thalamus
• Septum
• Hippocampus
• Prefrontal cortex

Question 10

How does the amygdala participate in fear learning? (3)

Answer 10

Studies using conditioned fear responses in mice show:

• The amygdala is vital for associating a neutral cue (tone) with an aversive stimulus (shock).
• This association strengthens glutamate synapses in the amygdala, leading to long-term potentiation (LTP) and conditioned fear.
• Blocking NMDA receptors (important for LTP) disrupts fear learning.

Question 11

How does damage to the amygdala affect emotional responses?

Answer 11

Patients with amygdala damage (e.g., patient SM) show reduced fear responses, suggesting the amygdala’s role in processing certain emotions (fear, surprise, anger)

Question 12

What factors contribute to the subjective nature of emotions?

Answer 12

Emotions are:

• Highly integrated: Combining various brain regions and experiences.
• Context-dependent: Meaning can change based on the situation.
• Dynamic and flexible: Fluctuating throughout an experience.

Question 13

How do the amygdala and hippocampus interact in emotional memory?

Answer 13

• The amygdala is involved in emotional learning (e.g., fear conditioning)
• The hippocampus contributes to explicit memory (contextual details). This interaction provides emotional experiences with context

Question 14

Which areas of the brain are ‘switched off’ by love? (4)

Answer 14

1. Amygdala (controls fear)
2. Mid-temporal cortex (controls negative emotions)
3. Frontal lobe (controls judgement)
4. Posterior cingulate (controls empathy)

Question 15

How are emotions treated pharmacologically?

Answer 15

Anxiety: Medications like anti-anxiety drugs might work by activating GABA receptors in the amygdala, leading to inhibition and reduced fear response.