Chapter 11.2

Question 1

Why are emotions important?

Answer 1

Evolutionary adaptation
Central to social communication

Question 2

Core set of emotions

Answer 2

Fear
Anger
Surprise
Disgust
Happiness
Sadness

Question 3

Papez circuitry/limbic system

Answer 3

The emotion system linking the cortex to the hypothalamus

Question 4

Limbic structures involved in emotions

Answer 4

Hypothalamus, thalamus, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, fornix

Question 5

Effects of amygdala stimulation

Answer 5

Electrical stimulation causes increased vigilance, attention, anxiety and fear in humans and aggression in cats
fMRI imaging shows fearful faces evoke greater amygdala activity than happy or neutral faces

Question 6

Effects of amygdala lesions

Answer 6

Bilateral amygdalectomy reduces fear and aggression in all animals
S.M. case study shows inability to recognize fear in facial expressions due to abnormal eye movements
Temporary inhibition of the amygdala causes decreased fear and anxiety in monkeys while hostility and vocalization weren’t changed

Question 7

Parts of the amygdala involved in fear response

Answer 7

Hypothalamus - autonomic response
Periaqueductal gray matter in brain stem - behavioral reaction
Cerebral cortex - emotional experience

Question 8

Neural circuit that supports learned fear

Answer 8

Sensory organ sends sensory information to the thalamus, which diverts this to the amygdala and the sensory cortex. The amygdala causes the quick emotional responses while the sensory cortex helps slower cognitive learning and memory

Question 9

How can acute stress be beneficial?

Answer 9

Increase alertness, focus, motivation
Stimulate immune system
Stimulate neuronal/astrocyte growth
Positively impacts memory
Increased resilience

Question 10

Effects of long term stress

Answer 10

Daily injection of cortisol to rats caused dendrites to wither in neurons
Subordinate male baboons died from gastric ulcers, colitis, enlarged adrenal glands, extensive degeneration of neurons in the hippocampus
Can lead to PTSD in humans

Question 11

How can stress be adaptive?

Answer 11

When faced with repeated exposure to the same stressful stimuli that is under one’s control and doesn’t lead to a negative outcome, hormonal responses can habituate

Question 12

Effects of stress on immune response

Answer 12

Stress releases glucocorticoids, which suppress the immune system as a short term mechanism to use all resources for immediate survival, which can be detrimental to the immune system when stressed for a long time

Question 13

Effects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to stress

Answer 13

Digestive system
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Glucose reserves

Question 14

How can early life experiences affect responses to later stressful situations?

Answer 14

Mild stress early in life improves resiliency to stress later in life
Rats that were licked and groomed more as pups had less stress responses
Children who are bullied are at higher risk for mental and physical disorders