Lecture 11b: Introduction to Affective Neuroscience

Startle Reflex

Automatic responses to loud noises or sudden stimuli (increased in anxious state, decreased in relaxed or positive state)

Emotion Processing Pathways

Reflexive, Automatic, Conscious

Reflexive Pathway

Sensory Receptors - Pons

Automatic Pathway

Sensory Receptors - Thalamus - Amygdala

Conscious Pathway

Sensory Receptors - Thalamus - Visual Cortex - Amygdala

Positive Emotions

Motivational and goal-oriented

• Too much oeads to impulsivity, reward-orienting, horse blinders, chronic stress

• Too little leads to apathy, lack of motivation

Negative emotions

Protective against danger and harm

• Too much leads to anxiety/depression disorders, chronic stress

• Too little leasds to poor choices, antisocial behaviour, repeated mistakes

Immune Function

Protects against foreign agents and bacteria

Pain

To protect against immediate external agents

Anxiety

To protect against non-immediate external agents

Stress and the Immune System

• Acute stress can enhance immune function, whereas chronic stress impairs it

• Stress triggers stress hormones:

  • Anterio-pituitary-adrenal-cortex system (glucocorticoids, epinephrine, norepinephrine)

  • Cytokines (causing inflammation and fever)