CT Lesson 6: Emotion

CT Lesson 6: Emotion

What are Emotions?

Intense, short-lived reactions to specific stimuli.

Functions of Emotions

• Survival/Adaptation – Helps avoid danger.

• Motivation – Drives behavior.

• Social Communication – Expresses internal states.

• Information Processing – Prioritizes attention

Types of Emotions

• Primary Emotions

• Secondary (Social) Emotions

Primary Emotions

Innate, universal (anger, fear, joy, sadness, surprise)

Secondary (Social) Emotions

Learned, cultural (guilt, shame, pride).

Brain Structures in Emotion

• Amygdala

• Prefrontal Cortex

• Hippocampus

Amygdala

• Central in fear, stress, and emotional memory.

• Activates the HPA axis → releases cortisol (stress hormone).

Prefrontal Cortex

• Regulates emotions and impulse control.

• Damage leads to aggression, poor decision-making.

Hippocampus

Connects emotion with memory.

Theories of Emotion

1. James-Lange Theory – Emotions come from bodily responses.

2. Cannon-Bard Theory – Emotions and physiological responses happen simultaneously.

Fear & Anxiety

• Fight-or-flight response

• Fear Conditioning

Fight-or-flight response

• Triggered by the amygdala.

• Activates the autonomic nervous system.

Fear Conditioning

Studied in animals using Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field Test