Emotions and Psychopathology

Flashcards covering emotions, psychopathology, and related topics based on lecture notes.

James-Lange theory

We experience physiological reactions to stimuli, and then feel emotions

Cortisol and dopamine levels in adrenaline junkies

differ in cortisol and dopamine in the face of dangerous stimuli

Pure autonomic failure

output fron ANS to body fails, results in reduced emotional responses.

Facial- feedback hypothesis

The theory that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences, suggesting that smiling can make a person feel happier.

Basic emotions and problems with the validity of six

• Basic emotions: anger, happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, disgust

• People have variability, some can correctly guess more emotions than others

• Cultural difference: people are more likely to recognize emotions from their own culture than others

utilitarian aspect of moral decisons

tactical thought, who will die/who will stay alive

emotional aspect of moral decisions

the influence of personal feelings and emotional states on ethical judgments and decision-making.

Damage to ventromedial prefrontal cortex and moral decisions

Can cause people to put less weight on emotional aspects, less empathy

Amygdala and learned fears

The amygdala plays a crucial role in the formation and storage of memories associated with emotional responses, particularly fear, allowing individuals to learn from threatening experiences.

Toxoplasma gondii

a parasitic infection known to influence behavior and emotional responses in infected hosts, including alterations in risk perception and anxiety levels.

Kluver-Bucy syndrome

a neurological condition caused by damage to the temporal lobes, characterized by emotional flattening (monkey study)

Amygdala response when viewing angry or scared faces

• Amygdala responds strongly when we see angry or fearful facial expressions

• Most active when viewing fear directed towards us, or anger directed away from us

• Becomes more active when responses are difficult to interpret

Damage to the amygdala and emotions

• Does not lead to loss of experienced emotion

• Can classify emotional pictures without difficulty, but report little arousal when viewing unpleasant stimuli

Reasons why categorically defining disorders isn’t perfect

• Psychological disorders are categorically organized, but are rarely categorical in nature 

• Many signs and criteria for disorders overlap with other disorders 

agonists

mimic or increase effect of neurotransmitters

antagonists

block neurotransmitter

affinity of drugs

for a receptor - tendency to bind (ranges from strong to weak)

efficacy of drugs

 tendency to activate a receptor

Role of dopamine in drug addiction

self-stimulation of the brain led to an increase of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which is where addictive drugs release dopamine or norepinephrine

Nucleus accumbens in drug addiction

Nucleus accumbens is central to reinforcing experiences, heightened stimulation in active drug addiction

dopamine levels during addiction

After people become addicted, the drug produces less dopamine, but the cues associated with it produce more dopamine

Effects of receiving a drug during withdrawal

Increases the likelihood of a relapse

Predispositions to alcohol

• Prenatal alcohol exposure positively predicts alcohol abuse later in life

• People who become addicted before 25 most likely have genetic predispositions

Antabuse function

Dulls nausea after drinking

Naloxone function

Block opioid receptors, decrease pleasure from alcohol

Methadone function

Safer alternative to meth or heroin, activates the same brain receptors

Symptoms of major depressive disorder

• Sadness or hopelessness most of the day, most days

• Lower response to reward in nucleus accumbens

• Attention problems, low motivation, and impaired memory

• Absence of happiness

• Negative bias

Nucleus accumbens in major depressive disorder

show less response to rewards

Role of immune system in depression

Immune system releases cytokines in times of stress, cytokines cause inflammation, people with depressive disorders tend to have higher brain inflammation

Tricyclic drugs

Block transporter proteins that reabsorb serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine into the presynaptic neuron after release

SSRI’s

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, inhibit uptake of serotonin

SNRI’s

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors that block the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

MAOI’s

A class of antidepressants that inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase, increasing levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

bipolar-disorder 1

characterized by full-blown mania

bipolar-disorder 2

characterized by hypomania

hallucinations

false sensory experiences, such as hearing voices when alone

delusions

unjustifiable beliefs, usually of a social nature, such as “Beings from outer space are controlling my actions”

Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia results from excess activity at dopamine synapses