Somatic marker hypothesis Flashcards
(19 cards)
Executive control
Executive control (includes many “higher-order” functions including
reasoning, planning and decision-making) relies on prefrontal
regions
what brain damage leads to deficits in executive control tasks?
lateral prefrontal damage
but this leaves emotional processing unimpaired
what brain area is emotional processing not reliant on?
prefrontal cortex
damage to amygdala leads to reduction in recognition of what faces?
fearful - and reduced experience of fear and anger
When EVR had the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) removed due to brain tumour, how did his behaviour change?
- Struggled to hold a job
- Behaved inappropriately
- Poor decision-making in the real world
What does the brain do first according to the Somatic Marker Hypothesis (SMH)?
It simulates the consequences of possible decisions or response options.
What happens in the body after the brain simulates a decision?
The body reacts to the simulation, creating ‘somatic markers’.
What are somatic markers?
Bodily responses that signal emotional reactions to potential choices.
How does the brain use somatic markers?
It interprets them to evaluate possible options.
What happens after the brain interprets somatic markers?
Attention and mental resources focus on the ‘good’ options for deeper analysis.
What is the advantage of using somatic markers in decision-making?
They provide a quick, ‘rough-and-ready’ way to assess different response options.
Which part of the brain is involved in simulating consequences and interpreting somatic markers?
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).
what are somatic markers like?
gut feelings - quick - do not need deeper analysis
do mPFC patients show skin conductance responses neutral stimuli and unconditioned?
yes - normal response
do mPFC patients show skin conductance responses socially charged stimuli?
No SCR response
How are healthy and mPFC patients skin response different before picking a bad deck in the gambling game?
mPFC have no response while healthy do
In the Iowa gambling task what card do mPFC patients pick compared to healthy?
Healthy initially pick the cards with short term high reward but then switch to those that have initial low reward long term gain
mPFC patients never switch
are decision and emotion one function?
Decision-making & emotion often thought of as
relatively separate functions
Commonly assume emotion “bad” for decision-
making
when do mPFC struggle to make decisions ?
- mPFC patients have trouble in making real-world
decisions (particular social decisions) - Impairment may stem from inability to generate &
interpret “somatic markers
