Emotions: Limbic System

Emotion Emotions: Limbic System: Limbic System: part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviours we need for survival: feeding, reproduction and caring for our young, and fight or flight responses. Use the acronym, HAT on a Hippo (Hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus) → structures that sit on top of the brainstem Thalamus: one on each side of the brain, functions as a sensory relay station (EXCEPT for smell); senses play an important role in emotion Amygdala: often known as the aggression center (stimulation causes feelings of anger/violence or even fear/anxiety → - - - destruction leads to a mellowing effect) Kluver-Bucy Syndrome: when you destroy both amygdalas; leads to hyperorality (put a lot of stuff in your mouth), hypersexuality, and disinhibited behavior Hippocampus: structure that curves around the thalamus; associated with forming new memories (helps to convert short term memory into long term memory) and can also evoke emotion as well; if hippocampus is destroyed, you can form new memories but your old memories are still in tact Hypothalamus: below the thalamus; very tiny structure that functions in regulating a shit ton of functions; in terms of emotion, it regulates the ANS (“fight/flight” or “rest/digest”); evokes emotion as well Emotions: Cerebral Hemispheres & Prefrontal Cortex: Positive emotions are more associated with left hemispheric activity while negative emotions are more associated with right hemispheric activity Sociability is also associated with left hemispheric activity while isolative individuals had more activity in the right hemisphere Prefrontal cortex: anterior portion of the frontal lobe; strongly associated with what makes humans, humans; responsible for high order functions such as language, philosophy, ability to solve math problems, etc; extremely well developed in humans, isn’t fully developed until adulthood Phineas Gage had damage to his prefrontal cortex; behaved inappropriate a lot Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) & Physiologic Markers of Emotion: ANS has the SANS and the PANS SANS is involved with the “fight/flight” reactions Controls pupil dilation DIRECTLY (PANS dilates but BECAUSE sympathetic nerves become neutral and don’t cause constriction) Increases respiratory rate and HR Decreased salivation Increase glucose release (produce more energy) Blood vessels are constricted towards digestive organs and dilated towards those that we need blood to (i.e. skeletal muscle, heart, etc.) → the PANS doesn’t directly innervate blood vessels either PANS is involved with the “rest/digest” reactions Adrenal gland is responsible for releasing hormones like adrenaline or noradrenaline (formed in the adrenal medulla) or aldosterone, cortisol, and other androgens (formed in the adrenal medulla) Three Components of Emotion & the Universal Emotions: - Emotions are subjective experiences accompanied by cognitive (thoughts about the emotion), physiological (includes distinct patterns in brain activation, neurotransmitter production, ANS activity), behavioral (physical signs) reactions Emotions are general involuntary responses 7 Universal Emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise, and contempt; consistent facial expressions that are understood across all cultures Darwin hypothesized that understanding emotion is an innate ability giving an individual a better chance at survival (blind people who have never seen before can exhibit the same facial expressions) Theories of Emotion: The James-Lange theory of emotion describes an event (horror movie scene) followed by a physiological response (fight or flight) which is interpreted as fear and fear is perceived. Cannon-Bard theory describes an event (horror movie scene) which elicits simultaneous physiological response (fight or flight) and perception of an emotion (fear). Schachter-Singer theory describes an event (horror movie scene) which simultaneously elicits a physiological response (fight or flight) and an interpretation of the event. If these agree the emotion (fear) is experienced. Lazarus theory requires that interpretation must happen before arousal or emotion, which happen simultaneously. Extra Notes: Flynn Effect is an observation regarding the growth of IQ from one generation to the next Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand emotions present in oneself and how those emotions motivate oneself and others Misattribution of arousal occurs when individuals make a mistake in assuming what is causing them to feel aroused Availability heuristic occurs when a judgement is made based on the perceived probability, the extent that one can remember or imagine similar occurrences, or whatever information that is available Insula is the brain structure most associated with disgust (anterior insula receives signals from senses of olfaction and gustation, while the posterior insula receives signals from audition and somatosensation)