The Brain and Behavior & Emotion

Behavioral neuroscience/biological psychology = study of the brain and behavior

Architectural, electrical, and chemical components

• Brain structure 

• Action potential

• Neurochemicals

Hindbrain = controls basic function of life

Medulla = region of the brain that adjoins the spinal cord; controls breathing, blood circulation, and balance

Pons = controls pons attentiveness and timing of sleep 

Reticular formation=  network of nerves extending the spinal cord up and plays in circulation, respiration, digestion , but also pain modulation, sleep, and consciousness

Midbrain = regulate our experience of pain, mood, and shape motivation 

Cerebellum = coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance and balance; judge time, modulate our emotions

Forebrain = made up of thalamus hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, cerebral cortex

Thalamus = involved in sleep, wakefulness, and relaying sensory signals

Hypothalamus = involved in eating, drinking, and sexual activity

Amygdala = plays a role in emotional activity 

Hippocampus = plays a role in learning, memory, spatial orientation, and creating new memories 

Cerebral cortex = involved in every thought and perception and our ability to understand language and construct experience 

Longitudinal fissure = a deep groove that runs along the middle of the cortex, separating the brain

• Left and right hemisphere 

Corpus callosum = transfer information from both hemispheres 

The hemispheres control muscles and processes sensory information on the opposite side

Prefrontal cortex = involved in planning, decisioning making, mood, personality and self-awareness

Neurons = communication cells in the brain and spinal cord

Dendrites = receives signal from other neurons

Cell Body - contains neuron nucleus and contains all the elements needed for metabolic activities

Axon = receives signals and send them out to other parts

Glia = provides nourishment in neurons and controls nutrient supply. Also, increasing oxygen and blood flow. Involved in brain development. 

Actional potential= neurons main response to input and the fundamental information carrier 

Excitatory neurotransmitters = increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire a signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron. Used for functions when were are awake

Inhibitory neurotransmitter = decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire a signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron. Used to induce sleep.

Agonists = drug that produces a specific action and triggers the receptor to produce a natural response. 

Antagonists = drugs that block or oppose the natural action or response of a receptor

Degeneracy = many combinations of neurons make one specific action

Core system = one to many

Left side = logic

Right side = creativity 

Roger Wolcott Sperry = created theory of right and left side of the brain, but not absolute

Brain lateralization = each side of the brain has different functions

James-Lange Theory = feelings follow our bodily reactions to external situations

Cannon-Bard Theory = our physiological responses to emotions are quite general

Classical View

• Emotions are built from birth

• Unique neuronal pathways generate them

• Universally felt and recognized

Display rules

• Rules about what emotions are appropriate to show in a situation

Emotion

• Physical properties of the body

• Flexible brain

• Culture and upbringing

Emotion regulation means influence

• Type of emotion

• Timing of emotion

• Expression of emotion 

Expression of emotions

• Body posture

• Voice

• Context

• Experience

 Circumplex Model of Affect

• Idea that any of the emotions you might feel are expressed on a spectrum and is a combination of valence, positive or negative, and arousal, excited or not excited