Emotions/- MCAT

What are the seven types of universal emotions?

happy, sad, fear, angry, contempt, surprise, and disgust

What are the elements of emotion?

Physiological

Cognitive

Behavioral

Describe a physiological response to emotion:

Change in autonomic NS

Describe a behavioral response to emotion:

facial expression and body language

Describe a cognitive response to emotion:

Interpretation of one's emotions

What is the limbic system?

Parts of the brain involved in the expression and regulation of emotions

What are the components of the limbic system?

Amygdala

Hippocampus

Hypothalamus

Thalamus

What does the amygdala do?

Controls fear and aggression

Interpret facial expressions

What does the hypothalamus do?

maintains homeostatic function, release neurotransmitters, and largely dictates emotions

What does the thalamus do?

Sensory relay station

What does the hippocampus do?

Creates long term memory

Storage/retrieval of emotional memories

What are the theories of emotion?

James-Lange

Cannon-Bard

Schachter-Singer

James-Lange Theory of emotion:

1. Stimulus elicits physiological arousal

2. Emotion is labeled

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion:

1. Physiological arousal + emotion is labeled (cognitive)

2. Action

Occurs at the same time

Schatcher-Singer Theory/Two-Factor theory of emotion

Physiological arousal and emotional interpretation based on ones' environment

Function of pre-frontal cortex:

Expressing personality

Planning intricate cognitive function

What is the difference between the left and right side of the prefrontal cortex?

Left side - positive emotion

Right side - negative emotion