Physiological Psych: Ch. 11 Emotion

Emotion

internal conscious states that we infer in ourselves and others (and in many animals)

What is necessary to experience emotions?

Some level of consciousness and arousal

What does a pushing dilemma activate?

cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus (areas that respond to emotion)

Gut Feeling

Feeling in your gut that something is right or wrong

We cannot directly observe internal feelings but we could:

• Use “operational definition” such as running away

• Use measures of SNS to observe and measure them

Visceral Awareness

Those most accurate at predicting shock also most accurate in detecting heart rate, suggesting that those most in tune with their bodies will have stronger emotions

Damage to what area causes someone to be able to understand consequences of decisions but still lost their job, marriage and savings?

Prefrontal Cortex

What does the James-Lange Theory propose about the order of emotional experience?

Autonomic arousal and skeletal actions come before feeling

According to the James-Lange Theory, why do we experience fear?

We experience fear because we run away — feelings are aroused by actions.

What component of emotion does James-Lange say is separate from bodily response?

The cognitive component of emotions.

What are the 3 components of emotion listed in the notes?

Physiological part, feeling part, and cognitive component.

What does the cognitive component of emotion involve?

Having lived long enough to know which emotions match which situations.

How fast can the brain categorize photographs as pleasant or unpleasant?

In as quickly as 120ms.

Does the brain need feedback from the body to categorize something emotionally?

No — the brain can categorize without waiting for bodily feedback.

Which components of emotion does evidence suggest James-Lange still applies to?

The feeling and physiological components.

What does research show about people with autonomic system failure and emotion?

They can report emotions like others, but do not appear to feel them.

What is the second part of the James-Lange Theory?

We identify emotions by the different physiological or motor outputs they cause

For which type of emotions is James-Lange identification unlikely?

Mild emotions, because mild fear, anger, and happiness look physiologically alike.

For which type of emotions is physiological differentiation more likely?

More severe emotions.

What marks panic disorder in relation to the James-Lange Theory?

Extreme SNS arousal followed by identifying the feeling of fear

What sensation is included in laughter according to the notes?

The sensation of smiling

What happened when the prefrontal cortex was stimulated during surgery?

The patient laughed and gave a reason for laughing.

What brain system is critical for emotion?

The limbic system

Where is the limbic system located?

In the forebrain areas forming a border around the brainstem

Which limbic system structure is especially associated with emotion?

The amygdala

What brain areas become active when a person recalls their most emotional experience?

The cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, and parts of the somatosensory cortex

What effect comes from damage to the cingulate cortex?

Reduced tension and anger

What happens when the medial frontal cortex is inactivated?

Loss of ability to identify expressions

What is the result of damage to the insular cortex?

People don’t experience disgust or recognize triggers of disgust

Which hemisphere responds more strongly to emotional stimuly?

The right hemisphere

The right hemisphere is especially responsive to what kinds of emotions?

Negative/unpleasant emotiona

What happens when the right hemisphere is inactivated?

People do not experience strong emotions and cannot remember feeling them

What activates the right amygdala?

Crying or laughter

What activates the right temporal cortex?

Noticing emotional expressions in others’ faces

What happens when the left hemisphere is damaged?

The right hemisphere becomes better at detecting emotional expressions, making a person more sensitive to emotion

What is stress?

The body’s response to any demand made on it

Are stressors always negative?

No, but the greatest stressors tend to be unpleasant

What two systems does stress activate?

The sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis

What starts the HPA axis response?

Stress activates the hypothalamus

What does the hypothalamus release during stress?

CRF/CRH (corticotropin releasing factor/hormone)

After CRF is released, what happens next?

CRF goes to the pituitary gland, which release ACTH

Where does ACTH travel and what does it do?

Through the blood to the adrenal cortex, which releases to cortisol

What are psychosomatic illnesses?

Physiological illnesses influenced by personality, emotions, or experiences

Are psychosomatic illnesses “imaginary“?

No - they are real physical illnesses

Do most illnesses have a psychosomatic component?

Yes - including common cold, cancer, and AIDS

What happens to stomach acid during stress?

Stomach secretions are inhibited

What happens after stress ends?

A rebound effect - stomach secretes more acid than normal

Why does this excess acid cause ulcers?

Without food present, stomach lining is attacked by the acid

What feeling is correlated with heart disease?

Hostility (Type A personality)

What effect does facial anger expression have on the body?

It produces inadequate blood flow to the heart, a precursor to heart attacks

What physical effects does social support reduce?

Heart rate and blood pressure

What is Voodoo Death?

Documented deaths where a healthy person beleives they are cursed and will die

What may cause Voodoo Death physiologically?

Strong SNS activation followed by massive PNS rebound

What did Richter (1957) find in rats?

Rats with whiskers trimmed and forced to swim died quickly from heart stoppage

What cause the rats’ heart stoppage in Richter’s study?

Massive PNS rebound following intense SNS activation

Are most human heart attacks caused by rebound PNS?

No — most are caused by SNS disruption of normal heart rhythm.

Which system reacts quickly to acute stress?

The ANS → SNS activation

Which system reacts slowly to stress?

The HPA axis

What hormone does the hypothalamus release during stress?

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)

What does CRF trigger?

The pituitary to release ACTH

What does ACTH stimulate?

The adrenal cortex to release cortisol

What does cortisol do when present in healthy amounts?

Elevates blood sugar and enhances metabolism

What problems does excess cortisol cause?

Weakened immune system, disrupted metabolism, and blood sugar issues

What is the immune system made of?

Leukocytes (white blood cells) that protect the body from intruders.

What happens if the immune system is too weak?

Viruses and bacteria can cause damage.

What happens if the immune system is too strong?

Autoimmune disease - immune cells attack normal cells

What do leukocytes do?

Patrol blood and fluids, killing antigens

What are antigens?

Surface proteins on viruses, bacteria, organ transplants, and intruders

What do macrophage cells do?

Surround and digest bacteria or other intruders

What do B cells do and where are they made?

Made in bone marrow; produce antibodies that attack antigens

What is the immune system’s memory function?

Remembers specific antigens and attacks them faster the second time

What medical practice uses immune memory?

Vaccinations

What do cytotoxic T cells do?

Stimulate T cells and B cells to multiply

Do leukocytes attack everything?

No - each type targets a specific intruder

What are natural killer cells?

Blood cells that attack tumor cells and virus-infected cells.

How do natural killer cells differ from other leukocytes?

They are non-specific and attack multiple types of intruders.

What do cytokines do?

Chemicals released by T cells to fight infections

What effects do cytokines cause?

Fever, stimulate the vagus nerve, signal the brain that the body is sick

Why is too much cortisol harmful to the immune system?

It reduces protein synthesis, including immune proteins.

What was observed in Three Mile Island residents after one year?

Lower levels of B, T, and natural killer cells.

What happened after nine months of Antarctic isolation?

A 50% drop in T cells

What does too much cortisol do to memory?

Impairs memory.

How does prolonged high cortisol affect the brain?

Makes hippocampal neurons vulnerable and toxins can kill them.

What is PTSD?

A condition that occurs in some people after trauma and causes ongoing stress until recovery occurs.

Most emotional animal behavior falls into what two categroies?

Attack (anger) and escape (fear)

What is the difference between cold vs. hot aggression

no emotion attached; emotional aggression

What did Brodkin et al., (2002) find in mice?

Identified genes associated with attack likelihood

Evidence that aggression is heritable?

Children resemble biological parents more than adoptive; MZ (identical) twins resemble each other more than DZ

How might genes increase violence?

Possibly by influencing body size and likelihood of winning fights

Who is most violent in humans?

Males, especially ages 15-25 (highest testosterone)

How does testosterone change perception?

Makes neutral stimuli appear threatening

What disorder involves unprovoked violent outbursts?

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

What treatment eliminated violent outbursts in some cases?

Amygdala destruction surgery

What does prefrontal cortex damage cause?

Increased aggression and social inappropriateness due to less inhibition

Low serotonin release leads to what?

Less impulse inhibition → more aggression

How does social isolation affect serotonin in mice?

Decreases serotonin → increased fighting

Low serotonin in humans is linked to:

violent crimes, violent suicide, aggression, more criminal convictions

What dietary issue can reduce serotonin production?

Too many competing amino acids (corn, Nutrasweet) block tryptophan entry to brain.

Difference between fear and anxiety?

temporary; long-lasting

Built-in unlearned fear?

Startle response to loud/unknown sounds