mod 56

Module 56: Theories and Physiology of Emotion

Summarize the following theories using the lecture notes:

Emotions: response of the whole organism involving physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious behaviors

Does physiological arousal come before or after the emotional experience?

Sympathetic nervous system (response) Amygdala emotion

Our heart races and we feel afraid at the same time

Two pathways differ- they have some things in common both rely heavily on the limbic system
The amygdala plays important role in both emotion paths, plays a role in positive and
Result of genetics and learning, especially early in life
Emotions serve as arousal states that help organism cope with important recurring
Learned emotional responses, along and genetics are both important components of many psychological disoreders

Apply the theories:

JAmes-Lange: upon seeing ghost, your heart races then you feel fear

Cannon Bard: your heart races as you feel fear

Two factor theory: Think we hear the ghost, heart races

Lazarus: you see a ghost, you think oh no so scary, and then you feel fear and your heart races Zajonc; LeDoux: low road, fear- you see a ghost and you feel automatically very scared- high road- you see the ghost and you realize your an empathetic person and become a graveyard cleaner

James-Lange Theory:

An emotion provoking stimulus leads to a physiological response, that leads to emotion- emotion follows behavior- we observe our heart racing after a threat, then we feel afraid (lecutre)

Feeling of fear follows body response

Cannon-Bard Theory:

A theory than an emotional feeling and an internal physiological response occur simultaneously, yet

independently(lecture)

Two-Factor Theory:

Physiological arousal leads to cognition, cognitive appraisal dictates the emotion

Loud noise (stimulus)--haard

OR loud noise (stimulus)--heart races "my siblings are having fun downstairs" leads to excitement

Lucarto. you boo a gluoy you min vite ou doury, all ter you lootout all your four taver

Zajonc; LeDoux: low road, fear- you see a ghost and you feel automatically very scared- high road- you see the ghost and vou realize your an empathetic person and become a graveyard cleaner

2 of 5

James-Lange Theory:

An emotion provoking stimulus leads to a physiological response, that leads to emotion- emotion follows behavior- we observe our heart racing after a threat, then we feel afraid (lecutre)

Feeling of fear follows body response

Cannon-Bard Theory:

A theory than an emotional feeling and an internal physiological response occur simultaneously, yet

independently(lecture)

Two-Factor Theory:

Physiological arousal leads to cognition, cognitive appraisal dictates the emotion

Loud noise (stimulus)--heart races "what is that noise?" causes fear
OR loud noise (stimulus)--heart races "my siblings are having fun downstairs" leads to excitement, (lecture)

Lazarus's "cognitive appraisals":

Cognitive appraisal-leads to physiological arousal and emotion simultaneously but independently

"Corrects" Cannon-Bard
That sound is "what is that sound?" heart races and fear occur at the same time (lecture)

Zajonc & LeDoux's "low road"

An emotional theory which states some embodied response happen instantly without conscious appraisal--low road and high road

Low road (quick moving) thalamus to amygdala-fear surprise anger (travels to the cortex) low road TA
High road (slow moving--higher order) thalamus to cortex, to amygdala-complex emotions, love (lecture) (brainstem, thalamus, limbic system) think higher order bc more thinking needed- BTL
BRITISH TOMOATO LETTUCE

Directions: identify the theory of emotion being demonstrated in each of the examples below.

1. You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. Due to these physiological changes, your body prepares for a fearful situation. You then experience fear. _lazarus

You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. At the same time as these physiological changes occur, you also experience the emotion of fear. james-lange theory
You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. Upon noticing this arousal you realize that it comes from the fact that you are walking down a dark alley by yourself. This behavior is dangerous and therefore you feel the emotion of fear._two factory theory_
We share a friend's feelings of joy if we smile with him. james lange theory _
When students perceive the arousal that accompanies test-taking as energizing rather than debilitating, they experience much less anxiety. Two Factor
Robert experienced excessive fear while flying because he interpreted his rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and heavy perspiration as a reaction to the imminent danger of a plane crash. When his psychotherapist convinced him that this physical arousal was simply a harmless reaction to acceleration, cabin pressure, and confined space, his fear of flying was greatly reduced. Two Factor
If something makes you angry, your heartbeat increases at the same time you think "I'm ticked off' -but neither your body nor your mind dictates the way the other responds. Two Factor
Neck-level spinal cord injuries reduce the intensity with which people experience certain
emotions.james-lange thaon

2. You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tie na yo: neart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. At the same time as these noys changes occur, you also experience the emotion of fear. _james-lange theory

naical

3 of 5

You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. Upon noticing this arousal you re.. that it comes from the fact that you are walking down a dark alley by yourself. This behavior is dangerous and therefore you feel the emotion of fear. _two factory theory.
We share a friend's feelings of joy if we smile with him. james lange theory
When students perceive the arousal that accompanies test-taking as energizing rather than debilitating, they experience much less anxiety._

_Two Factor

Robert experienced excessive fear while flying because he interpreted his rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and heavy perspiration as a reaction to the imminent danger of a plane crash. When his psychotherapist convinced him that this physical arousal was simply a harmless reaction to acceleration, cabin pressure, and confined space, his fear of flying was greatly reduced. Two Factor
If something makes you angry, your heartbeat increases at the same time you think "I'm ticked off" -but neither your body nor your mind dictates the way the other responds. Two Factor
Neck-level spinal cord injuries reduce the intensity with which people experience certain emotions. james-lange theory
Astrid was emotionally aroused by a TV horror movie. She became extremely angry when her younger brother momentarily blocked her view of the screen. When her movie viewing was interrupted by a phone call from her boyfriend, however, she experienced unusually intense romantic feelings.James Langel 2 Factor
There are subtle differences in physical responses like finger temperature and facial muscles change during fear, rage and joy. -

_James Lange theory

The activity of the prefrontal cortex plays a role in the emotions we experience. High Road
An emotion-arousing stimulus is simultaneously routed to the cortex and to the sympathetic nervous system._cannon-band theory_
Tranquilizing drugs that inhibit sympathetic nervous system activity often reduce people's subjective experience of intense anxiety.

_Two Factor Theory

14. If told a drug is a downer, new users often interpret their bodily sensations as depressed. Two Factor Theory

Lynn's boyfriend has not replied to her last three texts. Lynn is experiencing anger, increased blood pressure. and rapid breathing. Analyze this situation using the James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Two-Factor theories of emotion. In your response, be sure to define each theory and then relate it back to the scenario posed.

James Lange _ The theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus. Lynn is experiencing anger and it is due to her boyfriend not replying to her last 3 texts. (565)

Cannon-Bard _The theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus. Lynn is aware of her anger due to her boyfriend not replying to her last 3 texts

Two Factor_Two factor theory is the theory that to experience emotion you must be physically aroused and cognitively lable the arouseol (566)- In this scenario Lynn is physically experiencing anger by her blood pressure rising and she is able to define it as anger

Embodied Emotion: please read the module and answer the following questions based on the reading.

What role does the autonomic nervous system have in emotions? _directs your adrenal glands to release stress hormones, and to provide energy liver pours extra sugar into bloodstream (569)
What gland does the sympathetic nervous system activate when you become stressed?_adernal

_and what hormones does this gland release? !

__eniephrine

also known as

_adrenaline

, and norepinephrine_ also known as nonaderaline (569)_

3. When these hormones surge, it causes your liver to do what and for what purpose? Your book identifies two:

_Providing Energy (569)

Pours extra sugar into the bloodstream (569)

4. When the each of the following nervous systems are activated, what happens with the following:

Sympathetic		Parasympathetic
Increases(570)	Breathing	Decreases(570)
Accelerates(570)	Heart rate	Slows (570)
Increases (570)	Blood pressure	Decrease (570)
Inhibts(570)	Digestion	Activates(570)

Dilate (570)

Pupils

Contract(570)

naical

3 of 5

You are walking down a dark alley late at night. You hear footsteps behind you and you begin to tremble, your heart beats faster, and your breathing deepens. Upon noticing this arousal you re.. that it comes from the fact that you are walking down a dark alley by yourself. This behavior is dangerous and therefore you feel the emotion of fear. _two factory theory.
We share a friend's feelings of joy if we smile with him. james lange theory
When students perceive the arousal that accompanies test-taking as energizing rather than debilitating, they experience much less anxiety._

_Two Factor

Robert experienced excessive fear while flying because he interpreted his rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and heavy perspiration as a reaction to the imminent danger of a plane crash. When his psychotherapist convinced him that this physical arousal was simply a harmless reaction to acceleration, cabin pressure, and confined space, his fear of flying was greatly reduced. Two Factor
If something makes you angry, your heartbeat increases at the same time you think "I'm ticked off" -but neither your body nor your mind dictates the way the other responds. Two Factor
Neck-level spinal cord injuries reduce the intensity with which people experience certain emotions. james-lange theory
Astrid was emotionally aroused by a TV horror movie. She became extremely angry when her younger brother momentarily blocked her view of the screen. When her movie viewing was interrupted by a phone call from her boyfriend, however, she experienced unusually intense romantic feelings.James Langel 2 Factor
There are subtle differences in physical responses like finger temperature and facial muscles change during fear, rage and joy. -

_James Lange theory

The activity of the prefrontal cortex plays a role in the emotions we experience. High Road
An emotion-arousing stimulus is simultaneously routed to the cortex and to the sympathetic nervous system._cannon-band theory_
Tranquilizing drugs that inhibit sympathetic nervous system activity often reduce people's subjective experience of intense anxiety.

_Two Factor Theory

14. If told a drug is a downer, new users often interpret their bodily sensations as depressed. Two Factor Theory

Embodied Emotion: please read the module and answer the following questions based on the reading.

What role does the autonomic nervous system have in emotions? _directs your adrenal glands to release stress hormones, and to provide energy liver pours extra sugar into bloodstream (569)
What gland does the sympathetic nervous system activate when you become stressed?_adernal

_and what hormones does this gland release? !

__eniephrine

also known as

_adrenaline

, and norepinephrine_ also known as nonaderaline (569)_

3. When these hormones surge, it causes your liver to do what and for what purpose? Your book identifies two:

_Providing Energy (569)

Pours extra sugar into the bloodstream (569)

4. When the each of the following nervous systems are activated, what happens with the following:

Sympathetic		Parasympathetic
Increases(570)	Breathing	Decreases(570)
Accelerates(570)	Heart rate	Slows (570)
Increases (570)	Blood pressure	Decrease (570)
Inhibts(570)	Digestion	Activates(570)

Dilate (570)

Pupils

Contract(570)

Cannon-Bard_The theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus. Lynn is aware of her anger due to her boyfriend not replying to her last 3 texts (565)

Two Factor _Two factor theory is the theory that to experience emotion you must be physically aroused and cognitively lable the arouseol (566)- In this scenario Lynn is physically experiencing anger by her blood pressure rising and she is able to define it as anger

Embodied Emotion: please read the module and answer the following questions based on the reading

What role does the autonomic nervous system have in emotions? _directs your adrenal glands to release stress hormones, and to provide energy liver pours extra sugar into bloodstream (569).
What gland does the sympathetic nervous system activate when you become stressed? adernal and what hormones does this gland release?

_eniephrine

aise kilowies

adrenaline

, and_norepinephrine_

also known as nonaderaline (569)

3. When these hormones surge, it causes your liver to do what and for what purpose? Your book identifies two:

_Providing Energy (569)

b. Pours extra sugar into the bloodstream (569)

4. When the each of the following nervous systems are activated, what happens with the following:

Sympathetic		Parasympathetic
Increases(570)	Breathing	Decreases(570)
Accelerates (570)	Heart rate	Slows (570)
Increases (570)	Blood pressure	Decrease (570)
Inhibts(570)	Digestion	Activates (570)
Dilate(570)	Pupils	Contract(570)
Increases(569) As body is being "reved up"	Blood sugar	Decreases(569) As body calms down-homeostasis

5. Compared with the sympathetic nervous system, what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

The parasympathetic division of your ANS gradually calms down your body because stress hormones begin to leave your bloodstream as the criss is everted (570).

How can the arousal of the sympathetic nervous system be adaptive?

_The arousal of the sympathetic

nervous system can be adaptive as the sympathetic nervous system is apart of the amygdala which is in charge of emotions (slide 64)+(569)

And how does this concept connect with the Yerkes-Dodson Law?

This concept of the

sympathetic nervous system being adaptive connects with the Yerkes Dodson Law (where the state of optimal levels or carousel=peaks performance_-because the sympathetic nervous system is what supports the law as arousal caused by the SNS which causes you to be either under or optimally aroused.

(570)

7. Different emotions (sexual arousal, fear, anger) may have similar biological signatures but do feel different. Emotions do, however, differ in which parts of the brain are stimulated when experienced.

Identify which brain region is more active for each of the following emotions/moods: (see page 569)

Fear:_Amygdala (567).

Anger:_Amygdala (567)

Disgust:_Insula (570).
Depression:_Amygdala (567).
Joy:_Prefrontal Cortex (567)_
Positive moods:
Prefrontal Cortex (567)

Lie Detection - read the box on page 571 to answer these questions

Polygraphs measure emotion-linked autonomic arousal. This machine measures the changes in

breathing

heart rate

and

_perspiration (571)

that accompany emotion.

Polygraphs are designed to measure certain physiological conditions that are thought to accompany specific emotions. Which theory of emotion best supports this assumption?

The James-Lange theory would be the

best theory to accompany specific emotions as in both a stimulus leads to a physiological response- so in the polygraphs the questions (stimulus) leads to emotions. (565).

Why are evidence from polygranh tests not used as evidence of quilt or innocence in court? _Evidence from polygraph tests aren't used as evidence in guilt or innocence in court as innocent people can be tense and

Compared with the sympathetic nervous system, what does the parasympathetic nervous system do?
The parasympathetic division of your ANS gradually calms down your body because stress hormones begin to leave your bloodstream as the criss is everted (570)
How can the arousal of the sympathetic nervous system be adaptive? _The arousal of the sympathetic nervous system can be adaptive as the sympathetic nervous system is apart of the amygdala which is in charge of emotions (slide 64)+(569).

And how does this concept connect with the Yerkes-Dodson Law?_This concept of the sympathetic nervous system being adaptive connects with the Yerkes Dodson Law (where the state of optimal levels or carousel=peaks performance -because the sympathetic nervous system is what supports the law as arousal caused by the SNS which causes you to be either under or optimally aroused. (570)

Identify which brain region is more active for each of the following emotions/moods: (see page 569)

Fear:_Amygdala (567)_
Anger:_Amygdala (567)_
Disgust: _Insula (570)
Depression:_Amygdala (567).
e.

Joy:_Prefrontal Cortex (567)_

Positive moods: Prefrontal Cortex (567)_

Lie Detection - read the box on page 571 to answer these questions

Polygraphs measure emotion-linked autonomic arousal. This machine measures the changes in _breathing.

heart rate

andperspiration (571).

that accompany emotion.

Polygraphs are designed to measure certain physiological conditions that are thought to accompany specific emotions. Which theory of emotion best supports this assumption? The James-Lange theory would be the best theory to accompany specific emotions as in both a stimulus leads to a physiological response- so in the polygraphs the questions (stimulus) leads to emotions. (565)

Why are evidence from polygraph tests not used as evidence of guilt or innocence in court?

_Evidence from

polygraph tests aren't used as evidence in guilt or innocence in court as innocent people can be tense and seem guilty when they are not. Thus polygraphs not being a sole reliable source. (571)_

Module 56: Theories and Physiology of Emotion

Introduction to Emotions

Emotions involve physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experiences.

Key Components of Emotion Theories

James-Lange Theory: An emotional stimulus leads to physiological responses, followed by the emotional experience. For example, upon seeing a ghost, the heart races, and then fear is felt.
Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotional feelings and physiological responses happen simultaneously and independently. For instance, feeling fear occurs at the same time as physiological changes like rapid heartbeat.
Two-Factor Theory: Physiological arousal leads to cognitive appraisal, which forms the emotion. For example, a loud noise may trigger heart racing, leading to an excitement interpretation if you label it as your siblings having fun.
Lazarus Theory: Cognitive appraisal precedes and influences both physiological arousal and emotion. For instance, seeing a ghost might lead a person to think "oh no, so scary," which triggers fear and physical responses.
Zajonc & LeDoux Theory: Distinguishes between a low-road (quick, emotional response) and a high-road (complex cognitive processing) in emotional reactions.
- Low road: Thalamus -> Amygdala (fear).
- High road: Thalamus -> Cortex -> Amygdala (complex emotions).

Role of the Autonomic Nervous System

The sympathetic nervous system activates during stress, releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine, facilitating responses like increased heart rate.
The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body down after a stress response.

Brain Regions Involved in Emotion

Amygdala: Active for fear, anger, and depression.
Insula: Active for disgust.
Prefrontal Cortex: Active for joy and positive moods.

Practical Applications of Emotion Theories

The James-Lange Theory is often supported by physiological measures like polygraphs, which gauge responses that align with emotions. However, results are not reliable evidence in court due to individual variability in emotional expression.