CH 2 Bio of Desire

Question 1

What is the reward centre

Answer 1

A conglomerate of distinct cell assemblies

Question 2

What are examples of rewards

Answer 2

Peaches, money, power, drugs

Question 3

What does the irrationality of addiction show about the brain

Answer 3

That it is human, not diseased. Irrationality is an essential feature of being human

Question 4

What distinguishes mammalian brains

Answer 4

They live in complex environments and lean to adapt to the complexities

Question 5

What structures are included in the limbic system

Answer 5

Amygdala, hippocampus, striatum

Question 6

What role does the limbic system serve

Answer 6

emotion, memory, goal pursuit

Question 7

Permanence

Answer 7

The way brain patterns settle into place so that the past can shape the present

Question 8

How does an increase of feeling intensity affect the brains response to that situation

Answer 8

brain change takes on extra momentum, reinforcing learning connections more strongly

Question 9

What drives the brain momentum with intensity

Answer 9

Emotions that recur over and over creates a feedback loop

Question 10

What shapes the brain more acutely than other feelings

Answer 10

Desire

Question 11

What do brain changes eventually settle and become

Answer 11

Habits

Question 12

What happens to the brain when new changes come about

Answer 12

It restabilizes

Question 13

How is addiction different from other habits

Answer 13

1. It is a mental habit
2. The feeling of addiction always includes the feeling of desire
3. It’s a habit that becomes compulsive

Question 14

By what process do brain grow

Answer 14

Self-organization

Question 15

How do we define the patterns we find in brains

Answer 15

Self-perpetuating - they form habits through reinforcement

Question 16

What causes self perpetuation

Answer 16

Feedback loops between strong emotions (desire) and ongoing changes in brain structure

Question 17

Besides attraction and desire, what else forms via feedback loops

Answer 17

Depression and anxiety

Question 18

What can happen in neural patterns formed by desire

Answer 18

They can complement and merge with the neural patterns formed through depression or anxiety

Question 19

Where does the long term change in the brain occur

Answer 19

Synapses

Question 20

How do the synapses in the brain change

Answer 20

They change shape, form new synapses, decay old synapses

Question 21

How do the synapse changes affect the brain

Answer 21

They affect the degree of connection between neurons

Question 22

What is the “switch” that gets learning going

Answer 22

Emotional significance

Question 23

What strengthens and perpetuates learning

Answer 23

Repetition

Question 24

Motivated repetition

Answer 24

Repetition of something special

Question 25

Ventral Striatum (Accumbens)

Answer 25

Impulsive actions leading to goals Feelings of attraction, desire, anticipation, craving and reward Fuelled by dopamine

Question 26

Dorsal Striatum

Answer 26

Activated when goad directed behaviours shift from impulsive to compulsive Central to stimulus-response learning Triggers actions that are automatic and hard to turn off Fuelled by dopamine

Question 27

Midbrain

Answer 27

Contains cells that send dopamine to diverse parts of the limbic system and cortex; striatum, amygdala, prefrontal cortex

Question 28

Amygdala

Answer 28

Acquires and maintains emotional associations Triggers the same emotion on subsequent occasions Focuses attention on the likely source of the emotion

Question 29

Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)

Answer 29

Closely connected to the amygdala and accumbent Uses signals from these regions to create specific interpretations of highly motivating situations Generates expectancies and helps initiate an appropriate respone

Question 30

mPFC

Answer 30

Self-awareness Identity development Interpreting others' thoughts and feelings

Question 31

dPFC

Answer 31

Bringing memories to mind Sorting and comparing memories Using insight, judgement and logic to create new perspective, make decisions and adjust previous decisions *The bridge of the ship