Emotions

• Who proposed the Theory of Constructed Emotion?

  Lisa Feldman - Barrett
• What explanation of emotion suggests that the brain constructs inferences about sensations caused from the environment?

  Theory of Constructed Emotion
• What types of scans have been used to show that the frontal lobe and temporal lobes are activated during emotional experiences?

  PET and fMRI
• What areas of the cerebral cortex have been associated with emotional experiences?

  Frontal and temporal lobe
• What areas of the brain are aroused during emotional experiences?

  Limbic system, including forebrain area surrounding the thalamus
• Apart from the theory of constructed emotion, name three other theories of emotion?

  James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, Two-Factor theory
• What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?

  Emotion is the result of physiological responses to stimuli.
• What is the Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion?

  Emotion and physiological responses occur simultaneously.
• What is the two-factor theory of emotion?

  A combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation determines emotion.
• What two predictions do the James-Lange theory lead to?

  1. Weak bodily response causes less emotion
  2. Stronger bodily response causes enhanced emotion
• What study supports that weak bodily response causes less emotion?

  People with PAF have no impairment in recognising emotion and report feeling emotion but less intensely.
• What is PAF?

  Pure Autonomic Failure, heart rate does not change with activity.
• What does damage to the amygdala impair?

  Cognitive aspect of emotions and learning and retention of fear responses
• Describe the amygdala response.

  1. Basal lateral and central nuclei receive info about pain, vision and hearing
  2. Axons relay info to pons
  3. Startle reflex
• What is the startle reflex?

  Tensing of muscles following high intensity stimuli
• Functions of the amygdala

  Integrates environmental/sensory info

  Sends info to the hypothalamus

  Axons extending to the prefrontal cortex regulate approach and avoidance responses

  Startle reflex
• Describe hormone levels associated with attack behaviour.

  High testosterone and low cortisol and serotonin
• An experimental increase in testosterone in women decreased their ability to?

  Judge emotion expressions
• Environmental factors for attack behaviour?

  Lead exposure, upbringing, social environment
• Phineas Gage and Damasio 1994 found damage to what brain area impairs decision-making and leads to impulsive behaviour that stems from a failure to anticipate the unpleasantness of an outcome?

  Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
• Moral dilemmas used to research functions of emotions?

  Trolley, Footbridge, Lifeboat
• General reasons why we have emotions?

  • Survival from attack
  • Quick decisions
  • Moral decisions
• Drugs that increase GABA activity inhibit anxiety
• How do benzodiazepines work?

  Bind to GABA receptors and facilitate the effects of GABA (agonist)
• What brain areas do benzodiazepines work on?

  Amygdala, hypothalamus, midbrain
• The main excitatory neurotransmitters in the amygdala and hippocampus are CCK and orexin, and the main inhibitory transmitter is GABA
• Examples of drugs that increase GABA?

  Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax and alcohol