Emotion Flashcards
(21 cards)
Origins of Emotion
Panksepp = emotions emerge from hardwired neurological systems
Barrett = socially constructed
What is Emotion
comprise of subjective, physiological and behavioural responses that depend on a given situation and interpretation
they are functional states
they vary across and within people
Mauss and Robinson
situation - appraisal - emotional responses (including nervous system, behaviour and subjective experiences)
two key regions of emotion
amygdala
ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Amygdala’s Role in Emotion
Hariri et al 2002 = bilateral amygdala activation to emotional faces and pics
Herry et al 2007 = greater bilateral amygdala activation to unpredictable rather than predictable sounds
ventromedial prefrontal cortex’s role
regulation and updating
Yang et al 2020 = ventromedial prefrontal cortex activates in active emotion regulation
Etkin et al 2011 = similar activation patterns when updating threat to safety associations
How are the two key regions in emotion connected?
amgdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex are connected via the unicate fasciculus
Phineas Gage
lost part of ventromedial prefrontal cortex
emotional outbursts and poor social functioning
effect of ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage?
hyperactive amygdala activation to aversive images
effect of amygdala or ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage?
low levels of serotonin in ventromedial prefrontal cortex as seen in impulsive aggressive people
Higley et al 1996 = low levels of serotonin increases risk tasking in male monkeys
development of amgdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex
amygdala matures quicker- maybe why adolescents take more risks than adults
structural connectivity of white matter tract between amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex change with age
Phan et al
2002
How are emotions expressed?
Field et al = newborn infants imitate facial expressions
Willingham = facial expressions of congenitally blind, non-congenitally blind and sighted athletes were similar
Ekman and Friesen = diff cultures display similar facial expressions when hearing emotive stories
Olsson and Phelps = emotional responses may be learned through observation
How are emotions suppressed?
general display rules = Zemen and Garber = children less likely to cry in front of peers compared to caregivers
cultural display rules between countries (Early research = neg emotions more likely to be suppressed in some countries ie japan vs north america)
cultural display rules within countries = more variation in display rules due to ethnicity and culture interactions
Faking Emotions
microexpressions can be measured via facial electromyography
MURATA ET AL 2016:
corrugator supercilii = above eyebrow for sadness, anger, fear, disgust
lateral frontalis = above eyebrow/forehead area = surprise
levator labii superioris = next to nostril = disgust
zygomaticus major = happiness
Brain damage and emotional expressions
alterations in voluntary and involuntary facial movements
emotional facial paresis = case study of lymphoma in left thalamus results in difficulty making involuntary emotional expressions
volitional facial paresis = case study of dead tissue in left temporal artery resulting in difficulty making voluntary emotional expressions
Emotional Expressions and side of face
start/stronger on left side
Hauser 1993 = videotaped rhesus monkeys showing fear grimace in response to interaction with more dominant monkey shows left side first
Emotional Recognition
continuums can examine emotional intensity of facial expressions
central nucleus of amygdala responds linearly to ambiguity of fearful facial expressions ie greater amygdala for higher ambiguity
lesions to amygdala causes difficulty recognising emotional expressions in self and others
George et al = greater activity in right side of frontal cortex when detecting emotion from tone of voice but left and ride side of frontal cortex when detecting emotion in word meaning
greater activity in auditory cortex and parietal cortex for emotive music
does lateralisation impact recognition of emotions?
Strauss and Moschovitch
1981
ppts judged emotions of two figures, one a flipped image of the other
most said A sad (left is a frown into smile on right) and B happy (left is smile into frown on right)
BUT little evidence of emotion-based lateralisation
does expression influence emotion?
Rutludge and Hupke = put pen across mouth using same muscles for smiling and people rated others more happy
if engaging facial muscles related to emotion, that emotion is more present
Lewis and Bowler = botox reduces use of muscle for frowning and rate more happy
if irrelevant facial muscles for emotion are disengaged, more likely to feel it
imitating emotions
mirroring others’ facial expressions helps us understand how they feel
can occur unconsciously
patients with unilateral damage to visual cortex saw photographs of happy or fearful faces and smiled/frowned accordingly, whether photos presented to sighted or blind field
