Neurobiology of Emotions and Behaviour

Question 1

What is the role of the Hippocampus

Answer 1

1- Episodic memories are sorted and transferred to long term memory
2- memories linked with senses
3- spatial orientation and navigation
4- centre of neurogenesis

Question 2

What is the role of the Amygdala

Answer 2

1- Regulates emotional reactions : happiness, fear, anger , anxiety
2- creation of new memories
3- attaches emotional content to memories
4- fear learning
5- Activates flight or fight response

Question 3

Damage to the Amygdala can result in ?

Answer 3

• Agression / irritation
• loss of emotional control
• difficulty recognizing emotion, esp. fear

Question 4

What is the role of the Hypothalamus

Answer 4

1- maintains homeostasis and controls most autonomic functions
2- controls sexual drive and behaviour
3- links neurological and endocrine systems
4- combines information from other brain areas with receptive stimuli to regulate stress response

Question 5

What is the role of the Cingulate Gyrus

Answer 5

1- Monitors Body’s response to unpleasant stimulus

2- through to be involved in fear and prediction/avoidance of negative stimuli

Question 6

What is the main anatomical area responsible for emotional response

Answer 6

The limbic system : hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala

Question 7

Damage to Cingulate Gyrus results in what

Answer 7

• Improper emotions to situations
• don’t feel anxiety or pain
• patient puts themselves in risky situations and won’t realize

Question 8

What is the role of the Basal Ganglia

Answer 8

1- Primary controls voluntary movements
2- Involved in reward and reinforcing behaviours
3- addiction and habit formation

Question 9

Neurotransmitters involved with Anxiety ( normal anxiety that everyone feels ) and the 2 pathways

Answer 9

2 main pathways : Amygdala & Prefrontal cortex

Neurotransmitters:
1- GABA : inhibitory
2- Glutamate : excitatory

Question 10

Role of GABA in Anxiety

Answer 10

1- predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter
2- important regulatory role at amygdala and prefrontal cortex
3- enhanced GABA relives anxiety

Question 11

Explain the pathways of anxiety

Answer 11

1- See dangerous stimuli ( ex: dog barking )
2- amygdala is triggered , making you alert
3- Prefrontal cortex will asses situation and either reinforce amygdala reaction or calm things down

Question 12

Which medications target GABA for anxiety

Answer 12

1- Benzodiazepines
2- sedative hypnotics
3- barbiturates
4- alcohol

Question 13

Explain what is involved with Effects of the past ( PTSD )

Answer 13

1- Memories are stored in hippocampus
2- Traumatic memories activate amygdala
3- Hippocampus and amygdala will generate fear response when re-experiencing a traumatic event ( ex: PTSD )

Question 14

What imbalance happens with Anxiety disorders

Answer 14

GABA imbalance

Question 15

Glutamate is used as a therapeutic target for which other condition than anxiety

Answer 15

Psychosis

Question 16

Neurotransmitters involved with Depression ( monoamines )

Answer 16

1- Noradrenaline
2- Dopamine
3- Serotonin

Question 17

What neurotransmitter is target of antidepressants

Answer 17

Serotonin

Question 18

Serotonin is produced from what ( explain in detail )

Answer 18

Tryptophan , an essential amino acid we have to get form diet

1- Tryptophan converted into 5-Hydroxytrptophan via tryptophan hydroxyls
3- 5-HTP converted to Serotonin ( 5-TH) via decarboxylase

Question 19

Where are receptors for serotonin found

Answer 19

1- Brain
2- Gut
3- Platelets

Question 20

What is serotonin involved in

Answer 20

1- Mood and emotion 
2- sleep 
3- cognition 
4- appetite 
5- Memory 
6- Perception

Question 21

Can memory be affected in depression

Answer 21

Yes since memory is affected by serotonin levels. Could show pseudodemntia

Question 22

Dopamine is made from which amino acid ? ( explain in detail )

Answer 22

Phenylalanine –> Tyrosine –> L-Dopa –> Dopamine

Question 23

What is dopamine involved in

Answer 23

1- Pleasure , reward and goal directed behaviour 
2- attention 
3- motivation 
4- emotion 
5- motor function

Question 24

What is Noradrenaline involved in

Answer 24

1- Concentration
2- Attention
3- Motivation
4- Energy

Question 25

Map the symptoms of depression to the Brian

Answer 25

PFC: concentration , interest , pleasure , psychomotor mental fatigue , guilt , suicidality , worthlessness , mood Nucleus accumbens: pleasure, interests, fatigue, energy Striatum: psychomotor physical fatigue Amygdala: guilt, suicidal , worthlessness , mood Hypothalamus: sleep, appetite spinal cord: fatigue physical cerebellum: psychomot

Question 26

Explain Dopamine pathways in Psychosis and effects of medication on them

Answer 26

Too much dopamine resulting in Psychosis 1- Nigrostriatal : involved in motor control of voluntary movement, medications can cause extrapyramidal side effects ( ex: pseudo Parkinsonism) 2- Mesolimbic: involved in positive symptoms ( hallucinations/delusions) , 3- Mesocortical : Cognitive and affective symptoms ( apathetic, planning, judgement impaired ) , 4- Tuberoinfundibular : Dopamine inhibits prolactin release , medications could cause hyperprolactinaemia

Question 27

How does excess dopamine cause Delusions

Answer 27

Dopamine modulates attention and salience ( how much attention/relevance something needs form us ). Irrelevant stimuli will attract patient and get motivational salience and thus influence behaviour. Stimuli are attended to, explored and given meaning = leading to delusions.

Question 28

Explain Effect of Stress on Monoamines

Answer 28

Brain-derives neurotrophic factor keeps neurones/brain healthy. Under stress BDNF will be repressed and thus lower 5ht levels. Initially there will be higher NA and dopamine levels but if stress is chronic then they will decrease too Without BDNF : it causes atrophy , apoptosis in hippocampus and PFC

Question 29

What is the affect of Hippocampus and Amygdala dysfunction as a result of stress affecting BDNF

Answer 29

Hippocampus and amygdala dysfunction leads to overactivity of hypothalamic pituitary axis = elevated glucocorticoids and insensitivity to feedback inhibition = Effects BP , HR , diabetes , etc.