Neuroscience: Chapter 14: Emotion, Aggression, and Stress

Right cerebral hemisphere

Cheerful mood

Left cerebral hemisphere

Depression

Basal ganglia

Difficulty perceiving disgust

Area Damaged: Amygdala

Emotional Consequences: Difficulty perceiving and experiencing negative emotions, particularly fear

Area Damaged: Insula

Emotional Consequences: Reduced response to negativity, positivity, and overall arousal

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory

Perceived Stimulus | General Arousal | Assessment of Surroundings | Subjective Feelings

Cannon-Bard theory

Perceived Stimulus | Physical Responses + Subjective Feeling

James-Lange theory

Perceived Stimulus | Specific Physical Responses | Subjective Feeling

Frontal lobe

Reduced fear and anxiety

Humans pay the most attention to faces and can make a wide range of facial expressions. The human face is controlled by cranial nerves _____ and _____.

V; VII

somatic marker

association formed between stimuli and resulting patterns of physical activation

Who has modified his/her emotional expression as a result of learning and culture? a. Sara, who laughed when tickled b. Dr. David, who didn't show disgust while cleaning a dirty wound c. Paul, who cried when he cut his knee d. Amy, who smiled when she won

b. Dr. David, who didn't show disgust while cleaning a dirty wound

Studies have shown that genetics and the environment both interact to result in aggression. For instance, boys with a low-activity version of the _____ gene were ____ likely to be antisocial (a common precursor to aggression) if they had been abused as children. a. MAOA; less b. MAOA; more c. SERT; less d. SERT; more

b. MAOA; more Studies have shown that boys with a low-activity version of the MAOA gene were unlikely to engage in antisocial behavior in the absence of child abuse and neglect, but extremely likely to engage in antisocial behavior when exposed to severe maltreatment.

Joseph has been caring for his aging parents for many years now. While he is happy to help, he finds himself very stressed and has been getting sick a lot. He also feels like he has little energy compared to a year ago. Psychologists would likely say that Joseph has reached the _____ stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model. a. secondary b. exhaustion c. resistance d. alarm reaction

b. exhaustion Jason has entered the exhaustion phase of the General Adaption Syndrome (GAS) model. Likely, he has been in the resistance stage for the past few years, but recently has gone past that into exhaustion. He is susceptible to illness and depression and needs to find help soon.

Marilyn and Carolyn are laughing that Marilyn's driver's license picture looks so much different than her candid smile. Carolyn explained to her that posed smiles are controlled by _____ whereas candid smiles are controlled by _____. a. the primary motor cortex; the brainstem b. the primary motor cortex; a subcortical system c. the brainstem; the primary motor cortex d. a subcortical system; the primary motor cortex

b. the primary motor cortex; a subcortical system Carolyn was correct. Input from the primary motor cortex is responsible for voluntary expression whereas a subcortical system is responsible for spontaneous expression. This is why Marilyn's smiles can look so different.

Joyce is examining children who do and do not demonstrate theory of mind in the Sally-Anne task. Activity in which of the following structures might differ between the two groups? a. Amygdala b. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) c. Orbitofrontal cortex d. Ventral striatum

c. Orbitofrontal cortex Theory of mind, or the ability to understand another person's point of view, would require activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. Additionally, the medial prefrontal cortex plays a role.

Marquis almost got into a car accident while driving down the interstate. Now, his heart is beating rapidly, he's breathing quickly, and his palms are sweaty. According to the GAS model, he is in the _____ phase. a. secondary b. resistance c. alarm reaction d. exhaustion

c. alarm reaction Marquis has entered the alarm reaction phase of the General Adaption Syndrome (GAS) model. This is analogous to Cannon's fight-or-flight response. Assuming there are no additional stressors, he will calm down soon.

Unlike the amygdala, the _____ contributes to the more conscious, cognitive appraisals of threat. a. frontal lobe b. temporal lobe c. anterior cingulate cortex d. posterior cingulate cortex

c. anterior cingulate cortex The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) contributes to the more conscious, cognitive appraisals of threat compared to the less conscious signals arising from the amygdala. During catastrophizing by people with anxiety disorders, researchers observed unusually high levels of activation in the ACC.

Nasir and his brother were playing a video game. Nasir lost and got really mad. However, he calmed himself down and didn't throw the controller or hit his brother because he knew his mom wouldn't let him play anymore if he did. Nasir was able to control his aggression thanks to his _____ and his _____.

c. anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); orbitofrontal cortex The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the orbitofrontal cortex inhibit aggressive behavior. They helped Nasir make decisions by evaluating the anticipated consequences ("my mom won't let me play anymore"), both positive and negative, of behaviors.

Claudia was a victim of abuse as a child and now has a hard time handling stress as an adult. As a result of her childhood, she likely has fewer ______ receptors than other individuals who were not abused. a. dopamine b. hormone c. glucocorticoid d. serotonin

c. glucocorticoid Cortisol is a type of glucocorticoid. Increased expression of glucocorticoid receptors is associated with lower hormonal and behavioral responses to stressors. Research has shown that individuals who were abused as children, like Claudia was, have fewer glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus.

Nerissa was with some friends walking through a scary, haunted house. At one point, a clown jumped out from behind a wall to startle everyone. Although she isn't normally violent, Nerissa screamed and tried to kick the clown. This form of aggression would be labeled as ______. a. cold b. predatory c. hot d. repulsive

c. hot As a direct reaction to being in a haunted house and being scared by the clown, Nerissa reacted aggressively by trying to kick the clown. This form of aggression is called hot or impulsive aggression as it occurred immediately in response to being provoked.

Jason is taking a walk when he comes across a very scary snake. As a result of the danger, his hypothalamus activates both the ____ system and the _____ axis. a. empathetic adrenal-mediation; hippocampal-pituitary-adrenal b. empathetic adrenal-mediation; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal c. sympathetic adrenal-medullary; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal d. sympathetic adrenal- mediation; hippocampal-pituitary-adrenal

c. sympathetic adrenal-medullary; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Once Jason was scared by the snake, two systems were activated: the sympathetic adrenal-medullary (SAM) system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)

chemical messenger released by the hypothalamus that signals the release of ACTH

facial nucleus

collection of neurons located at the level of the pons

Klüver-Bucy syndrome

collection of symptoms that results from damage to the temporal lobes, and the amygdala in particular

emotion

combination of physical sensations and the conscious experience of a feeling

Emotions promote survival by

enhancing arousal, organizing approach and avoidance behaviors, and providing a means of communication.

emotion regulation

influence exerted by individuals over how they experience and express feelings

aggression

intentional initiation of hostile or destructive act

polygraph

lie-detector test based on measures of autonomic arousal

resistance stage

period characterized by a person's efforts to maintain normal activities while coping with a threat

alarm reaction

period characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and mental alertness

exhaustion stage

period characterized by extremely low reserves of strength and energy

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

pituitary hormone that stimulates release of cortisol from the adrenal glands

valence

positive (attractive) or negative (aversive) reaction to an object or event

catharsis

relief of tension through the expression of one's feelings

stressor

source that is perceived as a danger or threat

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

three-phase model for describing the body's response to percieved threats, developed by Hans Selye Stressor | Alarm: Fight/Flight Response | Resistance: Continue Coping | Exhaustion: Reserves depleted

stress

unpleasant and disruptive state resulting from the perception of danger or threat

nonverbal communication

use of facial expressions, gestures, and body language to communicate ideas and feelings

sham rage

violent reaction to normally innocuous stimuli following removal of the cerebral cortices

lymphocyte

white blood cell that offers protection from invaders

Which is not true of an emotion? a. Emotions are general states that last longer periods of time. b. Emotions include a conscious, subjective experience or feeling. c. Emotions include physical sensations. d. Emotions demonstrate valence.

a. Emotions are general states that last longer periods of time. Emotions have two major components: a physical sensation and a conscious, subjective experience or feeling, such as feeling scared. Emotions demonstrate valence, or an overall positive or negative quality. Emotions differ from moods, which are more general states that last a longer time than emotions.

Which of the following does not support the idea that emotional expression has a strong biological basis? a. Fraternal twins are more similar than monozygotic twins regarding the age they begin to show fear of strangers. b. Infants who are blind from birth still develop smiling at the same developmental time. c. Rhesus monkeys raised alone show fear at the sight of pictures of other monkeys in threatening positions at the same point in their developmental timeline as those raised in groups. d. Individuals, both blind and sighted, show similar facial expressions after winning and losing in a competition.

a. Fraternal twins are more similar than monozygotic twins regarding the age they begin to show fear of strangers. Fraternal (dizygotic) twins are no different genetically than other brothers and sisters. However, monozygotic twins are genetically identical. They are more similar than fraternal twins in the age at which they begin to show fear of strangers.

Tamara has been experiencing a lot of sad events lately. According to the _____ theory, she should relieve her emotions by crying. a. catharsis b. somatic marker c. James-Lange d. Cannon-Bard

a. catharsis According to catharsis theory, emotions fill a reservoir. When the reservoir is full, the emotions will "overflow," emptying the person of that emotion. Catharsis theorists recommend that people "let it all hang out" by expressing their emotions, so they would suggest that Tamara let out her sad emotions by crying. This approach, however, runs contrary to emotional feedback theories like the James-Lange theory.

Normally, the ______ acts to inhibit the actions of the hypothalamus and other subcortical regions. Studies in which it was removed in animals resulted in ______. a. cerebral cortex; sham rage b. amygdala; cold aggression c. amygdala; sham rage d. cerebral cortex; cold aggression

a. cerebral cortex; sham rage Research suggests that the cortices acted to inhibit the actions of the hypothalamus and other subcortical structures. Animals with surgically removed cortices demonstrate sham rage (violent rage provoke by ordinary circumstances).

Although humans use the whole body to express emotions, they pay most attention to the ____. a. face, especially the eyes b. body posture c. face, especially the mouth d. hands

a. face, especially the eyes Although we use our whole bodies to express emotion, humans pay the most attention to the face and in particular to the eyes. Early in development, human infants prefer gazing at faces, particularly those gazing at them, rather than at other types of visual stimuli.

Erika has been stressed for a long time. She has started getting sick more often. This is probably because her chronic stress has suppressed the activity of her _____. a. lymphocytes b. hypothalamus c. platelets d. red blood cells

a. lymphocytes Since Erika has been stressed for a while, she has likely been releasing a large amount of the stress hormone cortisol. The immune system produces white blood cells, or lymphocytes, that protect the body from infection and disease. Cortisol directly suppresses the activity of lymphocytes making it more likely that Erika would get sick.

Kalen grew up in a safe home with a very loving and attentive mother. As an adult, Kalen would be expected to have a ____ response of her ______ when she faces stress. a. milder; HPA axis b. milder; amygdala c. stronger; HPA axis d. stronger; amygdala

a. milder; HPA axis Epigenetic studies in animals and humans have demonstrated that maternal care was associated with showing stronger resistance to stress well into adulthood. For Kalen, research has suggested that growing up in a safe environment with an attentive mother would result in her having a milder HPA axis response to stressors.

Deja's cat was scared by a big dog. Without making a sound, her fur stood on end and she arched her back. This form of _____ alerted the dog to leave her alone.

a. nonverbal communication

Low levels of _____ are associated with higher levels of aggression and other acts like violent suicide attempts.

a. serotonin Studies have shown that decreased serotonin levels in the amygdala were associated with increases in aggressive behavior. Also, serotonin facilitates the activity of the prefrontal cortical regions, including the cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex.

empathy

ability to relate to the feelings of another person

social cognition

ability to understand the intentions and behavior of other people

_____contributes to violence by reducing the inhibition of aggression normally managed by the cingulate and frontal cortices. a. Serotonin b. Dopamine c. Testosterone d. Alcohol

d. Alcohol

Desiree heard a really loud noise. She quickly looked around and determined that the loud noise must have been thunder. She felt nervous and afraid so she went to seek out shelter from the storm. Which theory best explains Desiree's experience? a. Somatic Marker b. Cannon-Bard c. James-Lange d. Schachter-Singer Two-Factor

d. Schachter-Singer Two-Factor In this case, Desiree heard the loud noise, which was a stimulus that produced general arousal. Once aroused, she made a conscious, cognitive appraisal of her circumstances ("that was thunder"), which allowed her to identify her subjective feelings ("I'm afraid").

Bilateral damage to the _____ produces reduced emotionality. a. hippocampus b. prefrontal cortex c. hypothalamus d. amygdala

d. amygdala As a result of the findings of Klüver and Bucy, data suggest that the amygdala has a role in both the identification and expression of emotion. Bilateral damage to the amygdala produces reduced emotionality, particularly for fear, anxiety, and aggression.

Callista has been very stressed following the death of her mother. Her doctor is concerned about her high levels of _____ disrupting her sleep quality because this increases her risk for becoming ______. a. epinephrine; obese b. cortisol; aggressive c. epinephrine; aggressive d. cortisol; obese

d. cortisol; obese Stress can produce adverse effects on health by interfering with the quantity and quality of sleep. Callista's stress has resulted in the release of cortisol that can interfere with sleep onset and good sleep quality. Not only is poor sleep quality correlated with depressed mood, but it also puts Callista at risk for obesity.

Dallas and Bill are really good friends. They are able to communicate with each other using only gestures and facial expressions, which are forms of ______. a. evolutionary communication b. non-human language c. emotional communication d. nonverbal communication

d. nonverbal communication Dallas and Bill are able to communicate with each other using nonverbal communication. This includes facial expressions and body language and provides an important source of social information.

Instead of being upset that her ex was attending the same party, Bernadette used ______, which is a form of emotion regulation, by talking to her new friend, Christopher, and ignoring her ex. a. avoidance b. reappraisal c. distraction d. selective attention

d. selective attention

immune system

defense used by the body against bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances