PSYCH 120A Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.1: Capgras Delusion, Phineas Gage, Temporal Lobe
Document Summary
Capgras syndrome: results from brain injuries and sometimes accompanies. Can recognize people but is convinced that these people are not who they appear to be (fraud/impostor) Facial recognition involves two separate systems, one of which leads to cognitive appraisal and the other to the global, emotional appraisal. Emotional processing is disrupted in capgras no familiarity response. Neuroimaging techniques allow researchers to take high-quality, 3d pictures of living brains without disturbing the person. Abnormalities in several brain areas need to account for several elements. Temporal lobe damage, esp right side, probably involving the amygdala (emotional evaluator) Amygdala detects positive stimuli including indicators of safety or of available rewards. Damage to the amygdala doesn"t allow for the warm sense of feeling safe and secure when looking at a loved one"s familiar face. Abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex also found. Area is active when engaged in tasks that require planning or careful analysis.
