LO
- What is emotion and what do we mean by complex.
- Describe gross brain structures that are core to emotion.
- Exemplify how defined structures contribute based on structure/function of amygdala.
- Show how basic mechanisms of plasticity and receptor function support expression of emotion.
- Provide a single example of how knowledge and pathways of emotion can be targeted to provide therapeutic benefit.
What are the 6 simple emotions?
A complex alphabet of 154 human emotions requires more complex biology. There are various terms used to describe different ‘emotions’ that are more complex. Two of these are:
Gezelligheit and Wunderlust
Explain roughly what is meant by these two terms
Warm and in company of human beings when the outside is so cold (Gezelligheit)
Individual who has the feeling of enjoyment in the moment they’re living in but anticipates the next big thing to do (wanderlust)
Principle human emotion is influenced by what two things and using an example can you explain this
- Principle human emotion has context and memory
- 4 depictions of a lion that portray different emotions (e.g., anger in lion but fear in human)
- Memory can affect the emotional response given by an image
- Context of emotional response is important and also on the memory
Define emotion
A conscious brain function subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes in the body. This shifts state of consciousness or modifies feeling. It is a way of adapting organisms’ behaviour.
The presence of emotional responses has evolved to provide what?
evolutionary advantage
Tell me the types of responses that may be seen in the following situations…
- advancing lion
- romantic love towards preferred mate
Visceral and motor response to an advancing lion would be avoid punishment.
Receptive approach expressed in romantic love reward of a preferred mate.
Visceral response is almost instinctive, gutteral wave of emotions to an experience or stimuli
Receptive approach is listening, speaking etc.
What might the key components of emotional biology look like?
Complex biology build on systems and sub-system interactions
What have transection experiments under covered about emotion?
- Transection experiments highlight central role of diencephalon (reptilian part of the brain) for the expression of emotion
Tell me about higher regulation of physical manifestations voluntary (volitional) movement and visceral responses…
- Higher centers one associated with motor and one emotional. The higher centers act on integrated structures
- Act through distinct routes (movement and emotional expression)
- Activate motor neurons or preganglionic autonomic system.
- Express bodily expressions of emotion (body language)
- Subjective (ethereal part is lacking in this explanation)
Historical limbic lobe and modern limbic system
Tell me about an experiment done into conditioned fear learning to express an emotion and the types of responses/ chemical changes seen
- A rat would be in box and a tone would play
- It would then be in a box where the tone played and it got shocked
- So next time the tone played, the rat was scared it would be shocked again as fear was coniditoned within it
Association between 1 sense (audition) and another sense foot shock increases amygdala outputs.
Strengthening of the glutamate synapses that control output.
Show long term potentiation (LTP) and condition fear learning is inhibited if NMDA receptor antagonist are added.
Hebbian mechanisms (memory) are important in emotion)
Human patient SM with amygdala atrophy reduced fear response
Shows the amygdala’s role in fear response
Why is emotion so subjective?
Subjective nature of emotions
- Highly integrated and context dependent
- Dynamic and Flexible (moment to moment)
Tell me the interrelationships between the amygdala and hippocampus with memory and emotions
What is explicit and implicit memory?
Explicit memory can be brought out by interactions between amygdala and hippocampus. Explicit memory is declarative, conscious long-term memory that is easily and intentionally recalled and recited. Implicit memory is indirect and an unconscious form of memory
What is LTP required for?
LTP is required to draw a closer parallel between LTP in the amygdala slice and any enhancement in synaptic strength that accompanies conditioned fear
Fear is not the only emotion. Positive valence: love
Tell me about pharmacological manipulation of dysfunctional emotions affective disorders (e.g., anxiety)
Affective disorders are associated with dysfunctional emotional states.
- Depression low mood.
- Mania exaggerated elevated mood.
- Anxiety inappropriate activation of fear pathways-increased output from amygdala.
Tell me about the effect of Benzodiazepine on the amygdala
Benzodiazepine/ Valium therapeutic effect. They Enhance inhibition. As amygdala is working an inhibiting, this is heightened when benzodiazepine is present. It dampens down amygdala output
