Thalamus and Hypothalamus

Question 1

Define emotion.

Answer 1

An automatic physiological, behavioural and cognitive reaction to an external or internal event.

Question 2

Define emotional experience.

Answer 2

A subjective feeling.

Question 3

Define emotional expression.

Answer 3

A covert or overt behaviour.

Question 4

Define basic emotions.

Answer 4

A subset of discrete emotions thought to be universal across cultures.

Question 5

Describe the James-Lange theory of emotion.

Answer 5

Sensory stimuli that compose certain sensory events directly result in bodily changes, and emotions are the brain’s interpretations of these changes.

Question 6

Describe the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.

Answer 6

Physiological arousal and emotional experience can occur at the same time but are independent of each other.

Question 7

Describe the two main arguments against the James-Lange theory of emotion.

Answer 7

The same patterns of physiological responses can be caused by a variety of stimuli, so how does the brain determine what emotion should be felt?
If we had to experience a physiological response to experience emotion then what of people who are completely paralysed and unable to sense these bodily changes but still experience the full range of emotion?

Question 8

Describe Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion.

Answer 8

Sensory events directly trigger a physiological response but our emotions are differentiated based on the cognitive label (consistent with the situation or context) we apply to those physiological reactions.

Question 9

Describe the discrete theories of emotion.

Answer 9

Emotions can be distinguished from one another and are represented by specific response patterns in different areas of the brain.

Question 10

Describe the dimensional theories of emotion.

Answer 10

Emotions can be broken down into basic elements and it is the individual differences that result in the different ways people experience emotions.

Question 11

Describe the theory of constructed emotions.

Answer 11

Emotions are not hardwired but emerge into consciousness through perception of physiological responses to the situation and how each individual then categories these responses.

Question 12

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 12

Regulate the ANS and the physiological changes that accompany emotional states.
Regulate the endocrine system through control of the pituitary gland.

Question 13

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 13

Learning and memory.
Recognition of novelty.
Recollection of spatial relationships.

Question 14

What is the function of the parahippocampal gyrus?

Answer 14

Works in conjunction with other structures to help modify the expression of emotions.

Question 15

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 15

Influences our behaviour and activities to meet our internal needs, e.g. feeding, sexual interest and emotional reactions.

Question 16

Why do smells evoke such strong memories and emotions?

Answer 16

It is directly connected with the limbic system.

Question 17

What is the function of the cingulate gyrus?

Answer 17

Modifies behaviour and emotion.

Question 18

What is the fornix?

Answer 18

A pathway of nerve fibres that transmit information from the hippocampus and other limbic areas to the mamillary bodies.

Question 19

What is the function of the mamillary bodies?

Answer 19

Acts as a relay station, transmitting information to and from the fornix and thalamus.

Question 20

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the hippocampus and septum?

Answer 20

Via the fornix.

Question 21

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the amygdala?

Answer 21

Via the stria terminalis and amygdalofugal fibres.

Question 22

How does the hypothalamus communicate with the frontobasal parts of the olfactory brain?

Answer 22

Via the medial forebrain bundle.

Question 23

How does the limbic system communicate with the neocortex?

Answer 23

Via the frontal and temporal regions.

Question 24

What is unique about the frontal brain as a neocortical region?

Answer 24

It is the only neocortical region with direct neuronal connections to the hypothalamus.

Question 25

What is the role of the temporal brain?

Answer 25

Mediates information from the visual, auditory and somatosensory cortices to the amygdala and hippocampus.

Question 26

An fMRI and PET study showed that there were specific patterns of neural activity associated with which five basic emotions?

Answer 26

Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Disgust.

Question 27

Happiness is associated mainly with activity in where?

Answer 27

Right superior temporal gyrus.

Question 28

Sadness is associated mainly with activity in where?

Answer 28

Left medial frontal gyrus.

Question 29

Anger is associated mainly with activity in where?

Answer 29

Left inferior frontal gyrus.

Question 30

Fear is associated mainly with activity in where?

Answer 30

Left amygdala.

Question 31

Disgust is associated mainly with activity in where?

Answer 31

Right insula. Inferior frontal gyrus.

Question 32

What suggests that emotions are dependent on functional networks consisting of several areas?

Answer 32

Several of the same brain areas are activated for more than one emotion.

Question 33

What gives rise to Kluver-Bacy syndrome?

Answer 33

Bilateral lesion or damage to the amygdala.

Question 34

What are the symptoms of Kluver-Bacy syndrome?

Answer 34

Inability to recognise or identify objects by sight (visual agnosia), by touch (tactile agnosia) or by sound (auditory agnosia). Intense desire to explore the immediate environment (hypermetamorphosis). Hypersexuality. Flattened emotions.

Question 35

Name the four nuclei of the amygdala.

Answer 35

Lateral nucleus. Accessory basal nucleus. Central nucleus. Basolateral nucleus.

Question 36

Describe what happens in the brain when we experience an aversive stimulus.

Answer 36

Sensory information is projected to the thalamus. It is relayed to the lateral nucleus. It projects directly to the central nucleus and indirectly via the basolateral nucleus and the accessory basal nucleus.

Question 37

How does activation of the central nucleus result in the release of cortisol?

Answer 37

Via the connections with the central gray, lateral hypothalamus and basal nuclei of the stria terminalis.

Question 38

What is the function of the direct pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala?

Answer 38

Allows a rapid, reflexive response to the potential threat. Adaptive with experience but acts too quickly to allow further analysis of the situation.

Question 39

How does the indirect pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala via the sensory cortex work?

Answer 39

Information is analysed by the sensory cortex and hippocampus, and the outcome is relayed moments later to the amygdala. If there is a real danger, the amygdala response is accentuated.

Question 40

What the proposed function of the hippocampal involvement in the indirect pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala via the sensory cortex?

Answer 40

It is thought to add a further element to processing of information by checking memories of past experience.

Question 41

What causes Urban-Wiethe disease?

Answer 41

Calcium build-up in the brain causes degeneration of the temporal lobes.

Question 42

What are the symptoms of Urban-Wiethe disease?

Answer 42

No fear response when exposed to fearful stimuli. Unable to recognise emotional facial expressions, especially those expressing fear.

Question 43

Describe the somatic-marker hypothesis.

Answer 43

The physiological responses that arise through activation of the ANS, and the emotional events that they are associated with are thought to be stored as somatic markers within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

Question 44

What is thought to be the function of somatic markers?

Answer 44

To act as an implicit biasing signal that plays a role in decision making.

Question 45

What is the involvement of the cerebellum in emotion?

Answer 45

Plays a key role in the storage of both positive and negative memories of emotional events.

Question 46

The vermis is activated during recall of what?

Answer 46

Emotional personal life experiences.