Emotion and Health Emotion and the Nervous System CHAPTER 8 Emotion and Health Emotion and the Nervous System

Emotion and the Nervous System an increase or decrease in physiological activity accompanied by feelings that are characteristic of the emotion often accompanied by a characteristic behavior or facial expression. Emotions important Signal to others our impending behavior Give clues to our inner physiological activity Communication regarding others’ behavior

Emotion center in brain Prefrontal cortex necessary for making judgments about behavior and its consequences. damage to this area later in life show an understanding of moral and social rules in hypothetical situations but unable to apply rules to real-world situations. damage early in life never learn these rules; motivated only to avoid punishment. Amygdala and limbic system also critical areas Papez circuit: from limbic system to prefrontal cortex Hippocampus important for memory of emotions

Where do emotions come from? Changes in autonomic nervous system = one form of emotion Sympathetic nervous system arousal Parasympathetic nervous system arousal James-Lange theory: Emotions are the result of action Emotions = perception of own responses to stimuli results from the physiological arousal that precedes the emotion different emotions = result of different patterns of arousal. Schachter and Singer’s cognitive theory: 2-factor theory physiological arousal contributes only to the emotion’s intensity identity of the emotion based on cognitive assessment of the situation.

Figure 8.2 Comparison of the James-Lange and the Schachter-Singer cognitive theories of emotion

What do the data say? Physiological feedback adds intensity to motivation necessary for adaptive behavior. Assessment and identification of an emotion allows us to draw on our base knowledge and experience Thus can plan and execute a response. Different patterns of physical arousal during emotion have an adaptive function Not just for identifying our emotions May help select appropriate response. Emotion =major key to our survival and success.

Social cues elicit emotions Schachter and Singer (1962) Gave epinephrine injections to subjects Placed in room with confederate If confederate was giddy and happy, so was subject If confederate was angry, so was subject Subjects attributed emotion to the injection of ephedrine, not the model Data suggests arousal not necessary condition Appropriate social modeling or label can substitute for arousal Many other studies support this role of social referencing and learning as cues for emotion Arousal is an important component As social creatures, social cues may be equally important

Social cues elicit emotions

Innate Emotions? Ekman: work on facial expressions Used an isolated culture that had little contact with other cultures presented novel emotional stimuli (facial images) Could assess whether learned or innate Showed that contrary to the belief of some anthropologists some facial expressions of emotion are not culturally determined Rather are universal across human cultures and thus biological in origin.

Emotion Classification Devised a list of basic emotions cross-cultural research Fore tribesmen of Papua New Guinea. Observed that members of an isolated culture could reliably identify the expressions of emotion in photographs of people Even from cultures with which not yet familiar. E.g., Fore tribesmen could also ascribe facial expressions to descriptions of situations. On this evidence: concluded that expressions associated with some emotions were basic or biologically universal to all humans.

1 2 3 5 6 4 Innate Emotions Ekman (1972) Happiness Anger Surprise Disgust Sadness Fear 1 2 3 6 4 5

Additional (probably) innate Emotions Amusement Contempt Contentment Embarrassment Excitement Guilt Pride in achievement Relief Satisfaction Sensory pleasure Shame

Additional probably innate Emotions Question becomes, from where in the brain do these emotions arise? Is there a typical location or brain process used for: Creating these emotions? Identifying these emotions? Do the facial features arise from the emotion or do emotions arise from facial features?

Emotion and the limbic System Late 1930s and 40s: James Papez and others proposed that emotions originated in the limbic system Limbic system = network of structures arranged around the upper brain stem (remember) Called this the Papez circuit: hippocampus to fornix to anterior thalamus to cingulate cortex (prefrontal) and back to hippocampus

Emotion and the limbic System Limbic system = HIGHLY complex system Looping interconnections Highly interrelated and redundant structures This focus on limbic system may be oversimplification of emotion Emotion involves structures at all levels of the brain Other important areas include Sensory areas Prefrontal areas Even the brain stem. Limbic system connections to other areas are critical: Up to Prefrontal areas: thinking about emotions Down to Hypothalamus: producing actions/behaviors Mesolimbic pathway: connects all these areas

Emotion and the limbic System

Other important brain areas Hypothalamus: Septal area: Primary behavioral control over the autonomic nervous system Stimulation elicits general autonomic arousal Stimulation produces a variety of emotional expression: fear, rage, pleasure depending on where stimulate (remember the 4 F’s) Septal area: Stimulation here produces a sense of pleasure, Feeling from stimulation is accompanied by sexual fantasies and arousal. High in serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins

Other important brain areas Insular cortex and basal ganglia: Amygdala: Stimulation produces sense of fear Stimulation elicits fear, aggression response patterns in animals Defensive aggression Predatory aggression Territorial aggression Maternal aggression Insular cortex and basal ganglia: Appear to modulate feeling of disgust Individuals with Huntington’s and OCD have damage here

Important cortical structures in Emotion Anterior cingulate cortex part of the cingulate gyrus important for attention, cognitive processing possibly consciousness, as well as emotion. Anterior cingulate cortex appears to Combine emotional, attentional, and bodily information Brings about conscious emotional experience. Right hemisphere ACC tends to be larger in individuals with high scores on harm avoidance Linked to worrying about impending events, fear of uncertainty, shyness in social situations

The amygdala Amygdala Small limbic system structure You have two: One located in each temporal lobe Primarily involved in negative emotions. Participates in memory formation involving emotion Although involved in other emotions, role in fear and anxiety most thoroughly researched. Fear is an emotional reaction to a specific immediate threat. Anxiety is an apprehension about a future, and often uncertain, event.

Figure 8.10 Activation of the amygdala while viewing fearful faces (a–c) Activation in the amygdala (yellow and red area) is seen from different orientations during viewing of pictures 0f faces depicting fear. (d) Average amounts of blood flow measured by the PET scan in the amygdala while the individual viewed happy faces and fearful faces. Figure 8.10 Activation of the amygdala while viewing fearful faces (a–c) Activation in the amygdala (yellow and red area) is seen from different orientations during viewing of pictures of faces depicting fear. (d) Average amounts of blood flow measured by the PET scan in the amygdala while the individual viewed happy faces and fearful faces.

Emotion and the Nervous System Prefrontal cortex: The final destination for much of the brain’s information about emotion Processes this information prior to action being taken. Appears to regulate emotion in more logical, rational way Allows us to think rather than just react Prefrontal damage: lose rational response to emotions Damage results in inappropriate emotional responses to rewards and punishment When the “rational” center for modulating emotions is damaged, get lower brain responses to emotional situations

Emotion and the Nervous System Damage to prefrontal cortex: Individuals unable to use information to guide their behavior. Related to several “impulsive” disorders Risky decisions Gambling Lack of impulse control: say what is on your mind, no social filter Gary Busey! If damage in adulthood: know the social rule but can’t use it If damage in childhood: never learn social “rules” In contrast, damage to both amygdalas results in lack of emotional response in the first place.

Hemispheric differences Both hemispheres involved in the experience of emotions Are distinct differences: left frontal area is more active when the person is experiencing positive emotions right frontal area is more active during negative emotion.

Hemispheric differences Damage to the left hemisphere : Often express more anxiety More sadness about their situation In a sense, more verbal awareness of deficits Right -hemisphere damage: More likely to be unperturbed or even euphoric Even when have physical symptoms such as arm or leg paralysis. Autonomic responses to emotional stimuli such as facial expressions and emotional scenes are greater when stimuli presented to the right hemisphere. Perception of non-verbal aspects of emotion impaired in right-hemisphere-damaged patients.

Bottom Line Variety of organs involved in modulation of emotions Limbic system Prefrontal area Hypothalamus Autonomic nervous system Many emotions are innate Prewired or hardwired Not have to learn BUT: emotional responses may also be learned Learn to express/not express Learn cultural derivations of emotion