Emotions and Neurobiology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the three components that make up emotions?

Behavioral reactions, cognitive processes, interpersonal communication

Physiological arousal, behavioral reactions, subjective experiences (correct)

Subjective experiences, cognitive interpretation, environmental stimuli

Cognitive interpretation, physiological arousal, social context

According to Paul Ekman, which of the following is NOT considered a basic emotion?

Joy (correct)

Disgust

Sadness

Surprise

Which area of the brain is primarily involved in processing fearful emotions?

Cerebellum

Amygdala (correct)

Hippocampus

Prefrontal Cortex

What role do facial expressions play in emotion?

They are critical for social communication. Signup and view all the answers

Which hormones are primarily involved in the body's stress response?

Cortisol and Adrenaline Signup and view all the answers

How does the human nervous system respond to universally recognized basic emotions?

By using hard-wired mechanisms in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological response is NOT typically associated with fear?

Muscle relaxation Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is notable about Patient S.M. in relation to fear responses?

Shows no fear when handling snakes Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain is intact in Patient S.M. yet associated with emotion processing?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

How does Patient S.M.'s response to scary film clips compare to that of intact controls?

S.M. shows no emotional response Signup and view all the answers

In an eye-tracking study, what behavior differentiates Patient S.M. from intact controls?

Fails to track eye movements Signup and view all the answers

What type of stimuli was used to assess Patient S.M.'s fear response?

Scary film clips Signup and view all the answers

What role does the hypothalamus play in the release of cortisol?

It triggers the anterior pituitary gland to release ACTH. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the emotional response pattern of Patient S.M.?

Reduced emotional engagement Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the function of the HPA axis?

It manages the body's response to stress through hormone signaling. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable result from studies involving Patient S.M. in fear-related contexts?

S.M. experiences a complete lack of fear Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a function of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) during stress?

Inhibition of glucose release Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the release of ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland?

Signals from the hypothalamus. Signup and view all the answers

What does the intactness of the amygdala in Patient S.M. suggest about her fear responses?

Fear responses may involve complex network interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following tasks would likely show less difficulty for intact controls compared to Patient S.M.?

Tracking gaze movements in conversations Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is referred to as 'The Master Gland'?

Anterior pituitary gland Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary brain area activated in response to a threatening face presented subliminally?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

How long does the presentation of a threatening face occur to trigger amygdala activation without conscious awareness?

30 msec Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the 'low road' in emotional processing?

It leads to a quick fear response without conscious awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of stressors?

They are perceived as challenging, threatening, and/or harmful. Signup and view all the answers

What role do the eyes play in the amygdala's response to threatening stimuli?

The perceived emotion in the eyes influences biological threat assessment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to chronic daily difficulties?

Overwhelming single events Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates the high road from the low road in terms of processing speed?

The low road is fast and unconscious, whereas the high road is slow and conscious. Signup and view all the answers

What physiological response is associated with the stress response?

Secretion of adrenaline Signup and view all the answers

Which visual cue is significant for the amygdala's assessment of fear according to the described study?

Emotional expression of the eyes Signup and view all the answers

Which long-term effect is commonly associated with catastrophic events?

Flashbacks Signup and view all the answers

In the context of fear processing, what distinguishes a 'fearful' face from a 'happy' face?

The associated brain response is distinct. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an unconscious fear response?

Immediate reaction without conscious thought. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a catastrophic event?

An earthquake Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of how social factors can affect chronic daily difficulties?

Living in poverty Signup and view all the answers

What is implied about the presentation speed of neutral versus threatening faces?

Threatening faces activate the amygdala more readily than neutral faces. Signup and view all the answers

How does the body prepare itself for 'fight or flight' during the stress response?

By increasing energy availability and metabolism Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT a potential cause of chronic daily difficulties?

Extreme life satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

What is one immediate effect of catastrophic events?

Heightened risk of heart attacks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes subordinate social status in relation to stress?

It can limit control and contribute to stress. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotion

Emotions are psychological states, characterized by physiological arousal (e.g., sympathetic nervous system activity), behavioral reactions (e.g., facial expressions, fight-or-flight), and subjective experiences or feelings (e.g., surprise, elation, sadness, anger, fear).
Facial expressions of emotion play a crucial role in social communication.
Basic emotions (anger, fear, disgust, surprise, happiness, sadness) are considered universal and recognized across cultures.
Paul Ekman's research demonstrated the universality of basic facial expressions of emotion. He studied the Fore people in Papua New Guinea.
Basic emotions are "hard-wired" into the human nervous system.

Fear

Fear involves specific physiological responses, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and respiration. These responses are triggered by the amygdala.
The amygdala's role in processing fear is crucial.
The amygdala plays a role in processing fear responses in an unconscious way.
A "low road" pathway to the amygdala allows a fast fear response, while a "high road" pathway to the amygdala allows a more conscious response, which is slower.
The amygdala is activated even when a threat is not consciously perceived.

Patient S.M.

Patient S.M. had damage to her amygdala, leading to a lack of fear response, suggesting a crucial role of the amygdala in the emotion of fear.
S.M. exhibited little to no fear reaction to snakes, spiders, or other frightening stimuli.
Patient S.M. does not track the eyes, as opposed to a neurologically intact person.

Stress

Stressors are events and/or conditions that are perceived by an individual as overwhelming, challenging, or harmful.
Stress triggers the body's stress response system;
Stressors vary in intensity and persistence. Some stressors are catastrophic events while others are chronic daily difficulties.
Catastrophic events (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes war/combat, wildfires) produce short-term physiological effects and long-term psychological consequences.
Chronic daily difficulties (e.g., too many tasks, too little time, oppression, poverty) are sustained and reduce quality of life.
Subordinate social status can be a significant stressor.

The Stress Response

The stress response is a natural, normal physiological reaction to stress.
It prepares the body for "fight-or-flight."
The sympathetic nervous system is activated.
The adrenal gland releases adrenaline;
Cortisol is also released by the hypothalamus via the HPA axis;
The stress response system leads to increased energy availability (glucose), increased cardiovascular output, elevated lung capacity and focused attention.

Stress & Disease

Acute stress is normal, but chronic stress has detrimental effects.
Chronic stress and cortisol release can lead to long-term health problems.
Examples include high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, inhibition of the immune system, accelerated aging, and damage to the brain.
Chronic stress causes neuron loss with the hippocampus.
Chronic stress can cause immunosuppression, or reduced immune function, increasing risk of illness.

Coping with Stress

Coping strategies are approaches for dealing with stress; strategies include problem-focused and emotion-focused approaches.
Problem-focused coping involves directly addressing the stressor, often helping to reduce the stressor or conflict.
Emotion-focused coping involves dealing with the emotional impact of stress.
Avoiding or ignoring the stressor is a risk of this coping style.
Our appraisals of events play a role in how much stress we experience. A positive appraisal can lead to better emotional regulation.

Managing Stress

Healthy social relationships, support, and pets reduce stress levels
Aerobic exercise, meditation and conscious emotional regulation can help manage stress.
A positive appraisal helps regulate stress better, increasing prefrontal cortex activity and decreasing amygdala activity. Strategies need to consider the effects on health, both psychological and physiological.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the essential components of emotions and their physiological effects. This quiz explores emotional processing in the brain, the role of facial expressions, and case studies such as Patient S.M. Gain insights into the relationship between hormones, stress response, and emotions.