Lectures 41, 42: Limbic System Flashcards

1
Q

Major functions of limbic system and associated structures (4)

A

Emotions and drives (amygdala), memory (hippocampus), homeostasis (hypothalamus), olfaction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Amygdala

A

Emotional valence to sensory inputs and declarative memories, major output pathway to the anterior hypothalamus (autonomic and endocrine responses), fear conditioning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Nucleus accumbens

A

Reward, pleasure, laughter, addiction, aggression, fear, placebo effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Hippocampus

A

Memory, inhibit HPA axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Areas of PFC and major functions (3)

A

Dorsolateral PFC (executive function, cognitive control), Orbitofrontal cortex (corrects/inhibits maladaptive responses and socially appropriate behavior), Anterior Cingulate Cortex (reward, anticipation, motivation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Modulatory input NTs

A

5-HT, ACh, DA, NE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Major brain area modulating limbic system

A

Prefrontal cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Process of emotional perception

A

Stimulus –> appraisal (amygdala, insula) –> affective state (amygdala, insula, ACC, OFC, NA) –> regulation (PFC, ACC, hippocampus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Schizophrenia involves which DA projections? What is hypo/hyper active

A

Mesolimbic (hyperactive), Mesocortial (hypoactive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Learning (theory)

A

Strengthening of existing responses/behaviors or formation of new responses to existing stimuli that occurs because of practice or repetition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Habituation

A

Repeated stimulus –> decreased responses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Sensitization and some examples

A

Repeated stimulus –> increased response (LTP, kindling, chronic pain, addiction)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Classical conditioning

A

Neutral stimulus w/ unconditioned stimulus –> neutral stimulus causes response of unconditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Classical conditioning symbols

A

US –> UR; US + NS –> CR; CS –> CR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Spontaneous recovery

A

Increase in the strength of an extinguished behavior after

the passage of a period of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stimulus generalization

A

Conditioned response as a result of a new stimulus that resembles conditioned stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Learned helplessness

A

Association (by classical conditioning) between aversive stimulus and inability to escape leads to hopeless, apathetic response during subsequent exposure to same or new aversive stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Imprinting

A

Learning occurring at a particular

age or a particular life stage that is rapid and independent of the consequences of behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Fear conditioning requires what structure?

A

Amygdala

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Fear Network pathway, long loop

A

Afferents –> sensory thalamus –> cortex (appraisal) –> amygadala –> brainstem, hypothalamus for flight/fight response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Fear Network pathway, short loop

A

Afferents –> sensory thalamus –> straight to amygdala!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Operant Conditioning is basically…based on what feedback?

A

Trial and error learning based on reinforcement (positive or negative, punishment)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is negative reinforcement?

A

Behavior strengthened by avoiding an aversive consequence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Which is better, reinforcement vs punishment?

A

Reinforcement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Two schedules of reinforcement and subtypes

A

Fixed (continuous, fixed ration/interval) or Variable (ratio/interval)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Best schedule of reinforcement for extinction. Down side?

A

Variable; slow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Neurobiology of operant conditioning and NTs

A

Nucleus basalis (ACh) activated after conditioned stimulus; DA for positive reinforcement

28
Q

All drugs of abuse activate…increase DA where?

A

Mesolimbic DA system and increase DA in NA

29
Q

Describe Kluver-Bucy Syndrome

A

No amygdala = hyperorality, hypersexuality, no fear/aggression

30
Q

Describe Urbach-Wiethe disease

A

Rare genetic disorder, calcifications on amygdala –> cannot rate intensity of emotion/recognize fear expression

31
Q

Structures involved in empathy and associated functions (3)

A

Insula (experience painful emotions, imitate them, observe similar emotions); ACC (error in behaviors); Amygdala and frontal regions (empathy and maintaining socially acceptable behavior)

32
Q

In socipathy, where is dysfunction?

A

Amygdala/OFC/VMPFC/Insula/ACC

33
Q

Describe limbic encephalitis

A

Group of autoimmune disorders predominantly affecting of limbic system related to a tumor but usually presents BEFORE malignancy diagnosis

34
Q

How does limbic encephalitis present?

A

Subacute short term memory loss w/ other psych symptoms; other causes are ruled out

35
Q

Three major groups of limbic encephalitis

A
  1. Classical onconeural Abs against intracellular neuronal antigens; 2. Abs against neuonral surface/synapses; 3. No known Ab
36
Q

Examples of onconeuronal (ovary)

A

F

37
Q

Describe herpes simplex encephalitis cause, presentation, prognosis

A

HSV-1; confusion, personality change, seizures, impaired consciousness, fever, impaired memory –> quickly fatal if untreated

38
Q

Temporal lobe epilepsy

A

Seizures associated with fear, emotional responses

39
Q

Two types of dementia associated with limbic system

A

Frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s Dementia

40
Q

Hippocampus critical to what memory function?

A

Forming (not storing) new memories

41
Q

Describe limbic control of the HPA axis

A

Excitatory control from amygalda, inhibitory control from hippocampus (via GABAergic cells) –> CRF

42
Q

Cortisol excites/inhibits hippocampus. This is what kinda of feedback? So, excessive levels of cortisol can cause what?

A

Excites; negative feedback; hyperactivity in hippocampus, leading to damage and pathological feed-forward (more cortisol)

43
Q

The cellular circuity of hippocampus is all (NT) modulated by what? (2)

A

Glutamatergic; GABAergic interneurons and ACh from septum

44
Q

Amygdala is critical to what memory function?

A

Associative memory

45
Q

Bilateral lesions of amygdala comprise what syndrome. Describe.

A

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome; placidity, loss of fear, hypersexuality, and hyperphagia

46
Q

T/F: Amygdala and hippocampus are rarely foci of epilepsy

A

False: major epileptic focus

47
Q

Amygdala circuitry sends projections to which two major regions?

A

Forebrain AND hypothalamus (CRF release) & brainstem nuclei

48
Q

Two primary functions of PFC

A
  1. Working memory; 2. Executive control
49
Q

Nucleus accumbens and septal nuclei are both…

A

Reward regions

50
Q

Septal nuclei provide…

A

Strong cholinergic innervation of hippocampus

51
Q

Bed nucleus of stria terminalis gets output from? What psych disorder is this important for?

A

Output of amygdala, particularly implicated in anxiety

52
Q

Lateral habenula

A

Important interconnections with most other limbic structures

53
Q

Long-term memory storage is called what and requires what? Retrieving memory is called what? What does this do?

A

Consolidation, requires gene transcription; reconsolidation strengthens memory but also makes in unstable

54
Q

Three molecular bases for memory

A

Synapse-specific (LTP, LTD), whole cell plasticity (altered excitability) and changes in dendritic spines/nerve terminals

55
Q

Define declarative memory and what mediates it (2 brain regions)

A

Semantic/episodic with exquisite temporal features; hippocampus and amygdala

56
Q

Fear conditioning is a type of what kind of memory?

A

Declarative

57
Q

What type of cell has shown us that the hippocampus is important for spatial memory?

A

“Place Cells”

58
Q

Hippocampus required for _______ fear conditioning, amygdala required for _______ fear conditioning

A

Contextual (environment); cue (unconditioned stimulus)

59
Q

Define procedural memory and what mediates it (brain region)

A

Habit/motor memory; striatum

60
Q

Define working memory and what mediates it (brain region)

A

The ability to keep things in mind (prefrontal cortex)

61
Q

NA/VTA are crucial for signaling what aspect of memory?

A

Rewarding/punishing memory (good or bad)

62
Q

The septum uses what NT to contribute to memory?

A

ACh

63
Q

Where are memories likely stored?

A

PFC

64
Q

Emotional memory storage mediated by what system?

A

Monoamine systems

65
Q

Define social cognition

A

Ability to perceive others feelings from subtle cues

66
Q

What hormones are implicated in social cognition and what are each related to?

A

Oxytocin (affiliation) and vasopression (anxiety)