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Summary Emotions, fear and stress
Summary of key theories regarding emotions and amygdala purpose and function
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Chapter 17 – Biopsychology of emotion, stress, and healthPhineas Gage 1848. Construction foreman. He was responsible, intelligent, well-spoken, and
charismatic before the explosion, where a rod pierced his skull. His emotion changes very quickly,
with his intelligence intact. He became irreverent and impulsive. He had a successful recovery but
became a changed man.
This brain damage affected both prefrontal medial lobes. This area is known for coordinating
emotion, planning and decision making.
Darwin’s theory of the evolution of emotion
Facial expression amongst other emotional displays aid survival. Expression alerts us as to what
someone wants to do, if this expression is prominent, then it will evolve, and the principle of
antithesis suggests that the opposite movements indicate the opposite of the meaning. Sad is frown,
happy is smile. The use of weaponry evolved over time.
We hide our weapons to then reduce chances of this expression heightening the opponents survival
instincts. Hiding weaponry allows one to be stealthy during their attack, which leads to greater
elimination tactics.
James-Lange Cannon-Bard
Sensory stimuli are interpreted by the cortex, Stimuli have two independent effects
then this triggers changes in the organs, causing
physiological changes.
This change leads to emotional development. It The stimuli cause two relay systems in the
suggests that emotions stem from autonomic cortex, which then causes physiological
and somatic arousal, unlike the CB theory responses and emotion at the same time.
Feeling your heart rate speed up causes anxiety So, they are not causal
Both are not entirely true. People with spinal injuries still feel emotion. And physiological responses
can heighten emotional input, so feeling your heart speed up can heighten fear.
Sham rage – any animal that has been decorticated shows aggression from the slightest touch. This
anger is not directed at anyone, nor is it appropriate for the situation – like anxiety, but you get
angry for no reason when exposed to a weak stimulus. If the hypothalamus is also removed, then
these anger responses are not possible. Bard found out that this region must inhibit aggressive
responses.
Limbic system and emotion – nuclei that are connected to and interring around the thalamus are
involved in emotional responses. This system consists of the hippocampus, the amygdala, the
mammalian bodies, the septum, the olfactory bulb, fornix, cingulate cortex, and hypothalamus.
Kluver-Bucy syndrome Caused by injury to the temporal lobe. It includes overeating, increased
sexual ability, tendency to investigate familiar objects, and a lack of fear. This is all speculated to
come from an injured amygdala.
, Emotions and the autonomic nervous system
Emotional specificity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) There is evidence that both CB and
JL theories have some common ground. The physiological symptoms from any emotion are similar,
including fast heart rate, increased blood flow to muscles from the gut, and constricted bladder. So,
all emotions have the same pattern of autonomic stimulation.
Polygraph polygraphs do not dictate if someone is lying. They detect autonomic arousal. Lying
causes greater sympathetic activation. It is generally used in court, as people are asked many
questions, so even if someone is naturally anxious, this would be picked up and the test can be
overruled. These tests are around 80% accurate.
The control-response questions ask a general question then one specific to a crime to see how the
body responds.
The guilty knowledge technique is when there is one piece of convincing evidence against the
defendant. They then ask random questions, then mention the specific standout detail, which
triggers a stronger response in guilty people. Innocent people react the same the whole time.
Emotions and facial expressions
Some expressions are universal. These are found across all cultures and even in cultures where
people had limited social contact, like remote villages, these emotions remained.
Primary: surprise, anger, sadness, disgust, fear, and joy.
Facial feedback hypothesis: If one smiles, they can feel happy, even without emotional arousal.
Voluntary control over facial expression: We can inhibit how we feel with false facial expressions,
since we have voluntary control over our facial muscles. Micro-expressions are brief and small, but
noticeable ways to detect true emotion. And subtle changes, like relaxed eyes, can show whether
one is truly smiling or not. The orbicularis and the zygomaticus contract during a real smile, causing
eye creases and lip curling at the corners. The orbicularis is only contracted during real pleasure.
Fear, defence, and aggression
Fear is a response to threat. They instigate defensive behaviours to protect the self. Aggressive
behaviours attempt to harm other beings or even the self.
Target-site concepts are how we attack specific parts of other peoples bodies whilst protecting
certain parts of our own.
Aggressive behaviours
- Predatory aggression; stalking and
killing
- Social aggression; maintaining social
status through intimidation
Defensive behaviours - Intraspecific defence; defence against
aggression
- Defensive attacks; offence when
cornered
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