PSY 324 Chapter : Week 10 - Emotion
14 Dec 2011
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Document Summary
An emotional response consists of three types of components: behavioural, autonomic and hormonal. The behavioural component consists of muscular movements that are appropriate to the situation that elicits them. Autonomic responses facilitate the behaviours and provide quick mobilization of energy for vigorous movement. The components described above are controlled by separate neural systems. The integration of the components of fear appears to be controlled by the amygdala. The amygdala plays a special role in physiological and behavioural reactions to objects and situations that have biological significance, including those that warn of pain or other unpleasant consequences. Single neurons inside the amygdala become activated when emotionally relevant stimuli are presented. Amygdala is involved in the effects of olfactory stimuli on reproductive physiology and behaviour. The amygdala also plays a role in organizing emotional responses produced by aversive stimuli. Amygdala is located in the temporal lobes, consisting of several groups of nuclei with different inputs and outputs and with different functions.
