Problem 2

Question 1

Affective neuroscience

Answer 1

Aims to better understand emotion + mood at neurobiological + psychological levels and their interface

–> uses functional neuroimaging, electrophysiological recordings, lesion studies

Question 2

Darwins first notion on emotion

Answer 2

Animal emotions are homologous for human emotion

Question 3

James-Lange theory of emotion

Answer 3

Emotions are no more than the experience of sets of bodily changes that occur in response to emotive stimuli

e.g. if we meet a bear, we don’t run because we are frightened but because of prior experience

Question 4

Darwins second notion on emotion

Answer 4

A limited set of fundamental/”basic” emotions are present across species + cultures

e.g. anger, fear, surprise, sadness

THUS: the embodiment of emotions

Question 5

How did Canon challenge James langes theory ?

Answer 5

He pointed out that

1. surgical separation of the viscera from the brain did not impair emotional behavior
2. bodily changes are too slow to generate emotions
3. artificial hormonal activation of bodily activity is insufficient to generate emotion
4. bodily activity cannot differentiate different emotional states

BUT: claims were on some points rejected

Question 6

Sham rage

Answer 6

Refers to an outburst of motor activity due to sudden aggressiveness or fear

–> seen in cats

Question 7

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Answer 7

We feel emotions and physiological reactions simultaneously

Question 8

How does cannon bards theory explain sham rage ?

Answer 8

Removal of the cortex frees the hypothalamic circuit from top-down control

Question 9

Elaborate on the Cannon-bard theory on a neuronal level.

What was their main hypothesis ?

Answer 9

Argued that the hypothalamus is the brain region involved in emotional response to stimuli

–> such responses are inhibited by evolutionarily more recent neocortical regions

Question 10

Papez circuit

Answer 10

Suggests that sensory input into the thalamus diverges into upstream + downstream

–> separate streams of thought + feeling

Question 11

Thought stream

Upstream/cold

Answer 11

Is transmitted from thalamus to sensory cortices

–> sensation are turned into perceptions, thoughts and memories

Question 12

Feeling stream

Downstream/hot

Answer 12

Is transmitted from the thalamus to mammillary bodies

–> to generate emotions via anterior thalamus to cingulate cortex

Question 13

Triune architecture

MacLeans limbic system

Answer 13

Consists of the

1. Ancient reptilian brain

a) Striatal complex + basal ganglia
b) seat for primitive emotions
- -> fear + aggression

2. Old mammalian brain

a) Papez circuit, amygdala, PFC, hippocampus, Thalamus, Hypothalamus
b) augments primitive reptilien emotional responses

3. New mammalian brain

a) neocortex
b) exerts top-down control over the emotional responses

Question 14

McLeans theory of emotion

Answer 14

Emotional experiences involve the integration of sensations from the world with info from the body

–> THUS:

1. events in the world lead to bodily changes
2. brain integrates these changes
3. emotional experience is generated

Question 15

Kluver-Bucy syndrome

Answer 15

Is characterized by diminished fear responses and unusually low aggression

–> lesions to both temporal cortices

Question 16

Direct thalamo-amygdala route

Answer 16

Processes crude sensory aspect of incoming stimuli + directly relays this info to the amygdala

THUS: an easy conditioned fear response is elicited

Question 17

Indirect thalami-cortico-amygdala route

Answer 17

Allows more complex analysis of the incoming stimulus, then delivers a slower, conditioned emotional response

Question 18

Name the 3 main roles of the amygdala

Answer 18

1. Consolidation of LT emotional memory
2. Fear conditioning
3. Top-down processing of emotion

Question 19

Right hemisphere hypothesis

Mills

Answer 19

Suggests that the right hemisphere has a specialized role in the aspects of

1. perception
2. Expression of emotion

Question 20

Multiple systems models

Answer 20

Suggests that a small set of discrete emotions are underpinned by relatively separable neural systems in the brain

Question 21

Traditional fear center model

Answer 21

In the presence of threat, this system generates

1. conscious feeling of fear
2. physiological responses typical of such experiences

–> mammalian brain = fear system

Question 22

Two system framework/model

Answer 22

Suggests that one set of circuits generates conscious feelings, whereas the other the physiological response

–> opposition to fear system

Question 23

How is a fear response elicited through the amygdala ?

Innate fear circuit view

Answer 23

An immediately present threat activates the lateral nucleus of the amygdala

–> this initiates the expression of defensive behavioral reactions

e.g. freezing,

Question 24

What is the anxiety center/Anxiety circuit hub ?

Answer 24

BNST - stria terminals

• ->
  1. it is engaged when threats are uncertain

2. uses similar output pathways that are also used by amygdala to control responses

Question 25

Name the main problems with the subcortical fear + anxiety center/circuit views

Answer 25

1. Subjective experiences of fear and anxiety do not correlate well with measures of behavioral and physiological responses 2. Patients with amygdala damage still can feel fear, panic and pain 3. Threats presented subliminally increase amygdala activity and trigger peripheral physiological responses 4. Blindsight patients lose their ability to consciously experience stimuli presented to the LVF - -> exhibit threat-elicited amygdala activity and defensive responses THUS: The BNST and amygdala contribute indirectly to fear and anxiety

Question 26

Advantage of the 2 systems view

Answer 26

1. Makes it easier to understand the role language and culture play in shaping our experience 2. Explain why infants react emotionally long before they report emotions

Question 27

Higher order association cortex

Answer 27

Is responsible for cognitive processes such as attention + WM 1. Lateral and medial PFC - ->conscious awareness 2. Insula - -> conscious experience of somatic sensations 3. Parietal neocortex THUS: cuirtuis are engages when one is ware of visual stimulus

Question 28

What is the fear network comprised of ?

Answer 28

1. ACC 2. Anterior insula 3. Amygdala - -> but decreases over time which indicates habituation

Question 29

Fear extinction

Answer 29

1. Previously neutral stimulus is repeatedly presented without the aversive stimulus 2. Conditioned fear response is gradually eliminated --> Fear network active during extinction as well, so you learn a new conditioning response that is hopefully now more dominant

Question 30

PTSD patients neuronal diysfunctions

Answer 30

1. Amygdala hyperactivity - -> persistent elevated fear response & hypoactivity in frontal regions suggests a reduced potential for top down regulation of fear and fear extinction 2. Medial PFC and cingulate cortex & acc hypoactivity - -> reduced potential for top-down control and fear extinction 3. Reduced hippocampal activity - -> difficulties in identifying safe contexts

Question 31

Why is there a 2-way relationship in PTSD patients?

Answer 31

Some of the observed abnormalities, like reduced hippocampal volume can be a predisposing factor for the development of PTSD --> on the other hand it could also be a consequence of the disorder and show a further decrease over time

Question 32

Neuronal dysfunctions in PTSD patients

Answer 32

1. Amygdala hyperactivity - -> persistent elevated fear response & hypoactivity in frontal regions suggests a reduced potential for top down regulation of fear and fear extinction 2. Medial PFC and cingulate cortex & ACC hypoactivity - -> reduced potential for top-down control and fear extinction 3. Reduced hippocampal activity - -> difficulties in identifying safe contexts

Question 33

How can anxiety disorders be treated ?

Answer 33

1. Exposure therapy - -> related to fear extinction 2. Cognitive behavioral therapy 3. Mindfulness based stress reduction therapy 4. SSRI

Question 34

Neuronal dysfunctions in OCD patients

Answer 34

1. Orbitofrontal hyperactivity - -> occurrence of intrusive thoughts 2. ACC hyperactivity - -> compulsiveness + anxiety arising from these thoughts 3. Cortico-striatal pathway (primary caudate nucleus) - -> abnormal functional connectivity and increased brain activity in orbitofrontal and ACC regions

Question 35

Is the circuit of papez involved in emotions?

Answer 35

Previously it was thought to be involved in emotion but it turned out that it was more important for memory consolidation --> for this the PFC was later on added

Question 36

Anterior cingulate cortex

Answer 36

Associated with conflict monitoring --> send signal to PFC, which can integrate this information e.g. doing something you don't really want to do

Question 37

Thalamus

Answer 37

Is the relay center of sensory signals, including 1. motor signals to the cerebral cortex 2. regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.[4]

Question 38

Hypothalamus

Answer 38

Refers to a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions --> links the NS to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Question 39

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Answer 39

1. Regulation of certain metabolic processes + other activities of the autonomic NS 2. Synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, which in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland 3. Controls body temperature, hunger, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms