PSYCH261 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, Central Nucleus Of The Amygdala, Adrenal Medulla
11 Jun 2014
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Emotion refers to positive or negative reactions to a particular situation. Emotions consist of patterns of physiological changes and accompanying behaviors or at least urges to perform these behaviors. These responses are accompanied by feelings. It is behavior, not private experience that has consequences for survival and reproduction. Emotional responses consists of three types of components: behavioral, autonomic, and hormonal. Behavioral component: consists of muscular movements that are appropriate to the situation that elicits them. E. g. a dog defending its territory against an intruder first adopts an aggressive posture, growls, and shows its teeth. Autonomic responses: facilitate the behaviors and provide quick mobilization of energy for vigorous movement. Hormonal responses: reinforce the autonomic responses. In addition, the adrenal cortex secretes steroid hormones, which also help to make glucose available to the muscles. Components are controlled by separate neural system. The integration of the components of fear appears to be controlled by the amygdala.
