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Questions and Answers
What percentage range represents the error rates of the polygraph in measuring truthfulness?
What percentage range represents the error rates of the polygraph in measuring truthfulness?
Which part of the brain was damaged in Phineas Gage's accident, leading to changes in his behavior?
Which part of the brain was damaged in Phineas Gage's accident, leading to changes in his behavior?
What role does the amygdala play in emotional responses, particularly regarding fear?
What role does the amygdala play in emotional responses, particularly regarding fear?
Which of the following is most likely affected in criminal psychopaths due to amygdala dysfunction?
Which of the following is most likely affected in criminal psychopaths due to amygdala dysfunction?
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What does the limbic system collectively produce in terms of emotional responses?
What does the limbic system collectively produce in terms of emotional responses?
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Study Notes
Efferent Nerves and Emotional Responses
- Efferent nerves connect the central nervous system (CNS) to internal organs.
- Two major categories of responses from the CNS are rest and restore (parasympathetic) and fight or flight (sympathetic).
- Emotional responses are mediated by these nerves.
Polygraph Accuracy
- The polygraph measures changes in emotional arousal (e.g., galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure).
- It aims to distinguish between lying and truthfulness.
- However, polygraph error rates are substantial, ranging from 25% to 75%.
Phineas Gage Case Study
- In 1848, Phineas Gage suffered a severe injury.
- A metal rod pierced through his frontal lobe (orbitofrontal cortex).
- Surprisingly, Gage survived.
- The accident dramatically altered his personality.
- Before the accident, he was well-balanced, efficient, and respectful.
- Afterward, he became fitful, irreverent, and impatient.
Biological Psychology of Emotion
- The cortex plays a role in inhibiting and directing emotions appropriately.
- Sub-cortical structures (limbic system) contribute to emotional responses.
Amygdala and Emotion
- The amygdala is crucial for fear conditioning.
- Damage to the amygdala leads to issues:
- Difficulty recognizing fear expressions in others.
- Reduced fear conditioning.
- Absence or diminished fear responses.
- Criminal psychopaths exhibit lower amygdala activation.
- This suggests a link between reduced amygdala activity and psychopathy's emotional deficits.
- Psychopaths often have:
- An impaired ability to experience emotions.
- Difficulties in reading others' emotional cues.
- Problems learning from mistakes.
- Abnormalities may be linked to weakened input from the limbic system.
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Description
Explore the role of efferent nerves in emotional responses and the physiological aspects of emotions through case studies like Phineas Gage. This quiz covers the connections between the central nervous system and internal organs, as well as the implications of polygraph accuracy. Test your knowledge on how emotion and biology intertwine.
