Psychology Chapter 4: Emotions and the Brain

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Questions and Answers

What are the three main components that constitute an emotion?

Cognitive evaluation, conscious awareness, subliminal cues

Physiological arousal, cognitive evaluation, behavioral reactions

Memories, physiological arousal, cultural influences

Physiological arousal, behavioral reactions, subjective experiences (correct)

Which of the following is NOT considered a basic emotion according to Paul Ekman?

Sadness

Surprise

Confusion (correct)

Happiness

What feature of facial expressions is crucial for recognizing emotions?

Facial symmetry

Specific facial features (correct)

Cultural context

Signature expressions

How are basic emotions described in relation to human biology?

They are universal and hard-wired into the nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is primarily involved in the processing of fear?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

What physiological responses are associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system during stress?

Increased heart rate, rise in cortisol levels Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a psychological state that involves both internal feelings and external behaviors?

Emotion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the amygdala in response to a threatening face presented subliminally?

To respond to the threat even without conscious perception Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pathways represents the fast, unconscious processing of fear?

The Low Road Signup and view all the answers

In the context of amygdala activation, how does a fearful face differ from a happy face?

Fearful faces increase amygdala activation compared to happy faces Signup and view all the answers

What role do the eyes play in the activation of the amygdala in response to facial expressions?

The biological meaning of the eyes influences amygdala activation Signup and view all the answers

How quickly must a threatening face be presented for subliminal processing to occur?

Below 30 msec Signup and view all the answers

What would be an example of a response generated through the High Road?

Consciously recognizing a spider as dangerous Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome when a threat is perceived through the Low Road?

Instant fear response occurs before cognitive evaluation Signup and view all the answers

In terms of amygdala activation, which combination of eye characteristics increases the perception of threat?

Fearful whites and fearful blacks Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic contrasts the Low Road and the High Road in the context of fear processing?

Time taken to process sensory input Signup and view all the answers

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in emotion regulation?

Functions as a dominant control center for conscious behavioral choices Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the stress response in this context?

Adrenaline Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is directly involved in initiating fearful reactions?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

What physiological response is NOT typically triggered by the brainstem during stress?

Cognitive reasoning Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cortisol in the stress response?

Regulates long-term energy metabolism Signup and view all the answers

Which function is associated with sympathetic arousal in this context?

Increased sweating Signup and view all the answers

What is an indirect outcome of the activation of the hypothalamus during a stress response?

Release of stress hormones Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological effect is primarily linked to the activation of the brainstem during stress?

Respiration adjustments Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of emotion regulation is influenced by perceived threats?

Cortisol release from the adrenal glands Signup and view all the answers

How does a fearful stimulus primarily affect the prefrontal cortex?

Triggers emotional versus rational conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is associated with higher telomere length?

Low stress levels Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of chronic social stress as seen in subordinate monkeys?

Reduced dopamine binding Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coping involves directly addressing the stressors?

Problem-focused coping Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated to enhance one's health until the end of life?

Aiming for optimal health, or healthspan Signup and view all the answers

What is a common short-term effect of catastrophic events?

Higher rates of heart attacks Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant risk associated with emotion-focused coping?

Ignoring the source of problems Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes stressors?

Conditions perceived as challenging or threatening Signup and view all the answers

What long-term effects may result from experiencing catastrophic events?

Depression and flashbacks Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario is an example of chronic daily difficulties?

Living in poverty and facing constant stress Signup and view all the answers

What physiological change occurs during the stress response?

Increased glucose availability Signup and view all the answers

How does subordinate social status contribute to stress?

It may exacerbate feelings of helplessness Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of stressors?

They are always self-imposed Signup and view all the answers

What role does the sympathetic nervous system play during stress?

It prepares the body for 'fight or flight' Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a catastrophic event?

A natural disaster like an earthquake Signup and view all the answers

What may exacerbate daily difficulties?

Facing too many tasks and not enough time Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotion

Emotions are psychological states involving physiological arousal (e.g., sympathetic nervous system activity), behavioral reactions (e.g., facial expressions, fight or flight), and subjective experiences (e.g., surprise, elation, sadness, anger, fear).
Facial expressions play a crucial role in social communication.
Paul Ekman identified basic emotions (anger, fear, disgust, surprise, happiness, sadness) that are considered universal and recognizable across cultures.
The Fore people of Papua New Guinea, for example, correctly identified the facial expressions corresponding to these emotions.
Basic emotions are hardwired into the human nervous system.
These emotional expressions in infants align with the basic emotional expressions shown by adults, indicating a biological basis.
The amygdala plays a key role in processing fear.
The amygdala's reaction to threatening faces occurs even when the threat is too rapid for conscious awareness.
Eyes are a critical element in emotion assessment, and specifically fear, as the intensity of amygdala activation is greater with fearful eyes than happy eyes.
The amygdala triggers the body's involuntary response to stress via the high and low roads.
One pathway is a quick, unconscious process from the thalamus directly to the amygdala, triggering a rapid fear response.
The second pathway is a slower pathway from the thalamus through the visual cortex to the prefrontal cortex before reaching the amygdala, allowing a conscious evaluation before the fear response.
Stress activates the amygdala, triggering the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands, which triggers the release of adrenaline. These biological processes are part of the body's "fight or flight" reaction.
Prefrontal cortex activity increases with conscious appraisal of a situation as a challenge rather than a threat, decreasing amygdala activity.

Stress & Health

Stressors are events perceived as overwhelming, threatening, or harmful and activate the body's stress response.
- Catastrophic events: events like earthquakes, floods, wars, that evoke overwhelming harm and distress.
- Chronic daily difficulties: problems like poverty, oppression, can produce long-term stress.
Stress response: involves physiological responses like increased heart rate, blood pressure, and changes in hormone levels. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, releasing adrenaline. The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), triggering the release of ACTH, which triggers cortisol release from the adrenal glands. Cortisol supports the energy needed for the "fight or flight" response and the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) coordinates the responses.
Chronic Stress & Disease: chronic stress can have damaging effects on physical and mental health.
- Chronic stress can damage neurons in the hippocampus.
- Suppression of the immune system.
- Increased risk of heart disease.
- Elevated blood pressure.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Damage to the brain.
- Accelerated aging (telomere shortening).
- Impaired cognitive function.
- Psychophysiological illnesses are influenced by stress.

Managing Stress

Social support: close relationships with others, including pets, and social support help reduce stress and its negative effects.
Aerobic exercise: strengthens the physiological and immune systems and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Meditation: improves physical and mental well-being by calming the physiological responses to stress, increasing awareness of thoughts and triggers, and promoting compassion.
Appraisal: involves the cognitive process of evaluating a stressor, either as a threat or a challenge. Positive appraisal leads to increased prefrontal cortex activity and decreased amygdala activity.
Problem-focused coping means tackling the source of stress in a direct manner.
Emotion-focused coping focuses on managing the emotional impact of the stressor.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between emotions and brain function in this quiz. Delve into the components of emotions, basic emotions identified by Paul Ekman, and the role of the amygdala in processing fear and facial expressions. Test your knowledge on the physiological responses and features crucial for recognizing emotions.