Chapter 11 - Emotion

Emotions are complex values that involve what 4 components?

1. Feeling

2. Cognition

3. Physiological responses

4. Behavioral responses

In __ theory, emotions occur simutaneously with autonomic reactions

Cannon-Bard theory; states that when an emotional event occurs, it triggers both physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion at the same time, rather than sequentially.

In __ theory, emotions are triggered by autonomic reactions

James-Lange theory; states that physiological arousal precedes the emotional experience, suggesting that our emotions are a result of our interpretations of bodily reactions.

Schachter-Signer theory identified that cognitive systems assess the context of the current situation, known as __ apprasial.

cognitive appraisal

Name the theory of emotion that argued for a hard-wired localized emotion center and is the underlying theory for movies like inside out?

The Basic Emotion Theory

In Barrett’s theory of constructed emotion, emotions are actively constructed by what four things?

1. attention

2. interoception

3. sensory

4. experience and context

Barrett’s theory of constructed emotion is unique because it is considered the __ for emotions and the _ theory in emotion neuroscience, despite the fact that BET continues to be accepted in some scientific disciplines.

neurological basis for emotions; gold-standard theory in emotion neuroscience

Although early research identified the limbic system’s involvement in emotions, the field has moved away from thinking about emotions as products of a “primitive” center and instead a __ process.

whole-brain process!

What is happening in each of these images?

a) a rat hears an auditory tone - blood pressure is not affected and behavior remains normal

b) an electric shock is applied - blood pressure spikes and freezing behavior is observed

c) the same auditory tone is presented again - elevated blood pressure and freezing behavior is observed. The rat has acquired a fear of the tone.

What two systems support pleasant signals that are used for constructing emotion?

1. Dopamine-mediated medial forebrain bundle (major component of the teaching signal)

2. Release of endorphins at the nucleus accumbens (liking signal)

According the LeDoux, the survival circuit in the amygdala will trigger immediate __, whereas the conscious feeling of fear is constructed in the _.

Physiological and behavioral responses; cortex

The conscious feeling of fear involves the __ road, whereas the fright/fear response involves only the _ road.

high road; low road

What researcher noted that there is no simple “one-to-one” relation? — debunking the myth of a happy/sad center in the brain

Lisa Feldman Barrett

What is the general relationship between testosterone and hostility in mice?

Intermale aggression is seen between males of the same species. Testosterone has been found to facilitate intermale aggression, leading to increased hostility in competitive situations.

What is the main takeaway for the relationship between testosterone nad hostility in humans?

The effect of testosterone on aggression in humans is less clear. Confounding variables will affect testosterone level; sometimes are the result rather than cause of behavior. Influence varies by experience, dominance, or social status.

*VMH is involved in aggressive behavior

How do serotonin levels relate to aggression?

Serotonin levels are negatively correlated (a fancy way of saying inverse relationship). The more serotonin released, the more likely more aggression to be inhibited.

*VMH is involved in aggressive behavior

In stress response, what three substances are released?

1. Norepinephrine

2. Epinephrine

3. Cortisol

What is the difference between HPA axis and Sympathetic nervous system in stress response?

a) sympathetic - triggers the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla (rapid, short-term response)

b) HPA - triggers release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex (long-term response) affecting various bodily functions.

What is the role of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) in the stress response and what structure releases it?

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) is released by the thalamus and plays a crucial role in the stress response by:

• stimulating the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland

• which in turn promotes cortisol release from the adrenal cortex

The delivery system of the sympathetic nervous is __, which explains the fast-acting response.

Faster response; direct neural connections that signal for the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine

The delivery system of the HPA is the __.

slower response; hormones are directly released into the bloodstream

• Hypothalamus: Releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).

• Pituitary Gland: Secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood.

• Adrenal Glands: Release cortisol into the blood to manage stress.