EMOTIONSEMOTIONSSTRESS & HEALTHSTRESS & HEALTH

DEFINING EMOTIONSDEFINING EMOTIONS

Emotions constitute multiple responses Emotions constitute multiple responses

– Behavioral (Actions) Behavioral (Actions)

– Autonomic (Physiological)Autonomic (Physiological)

– Hormonal (Physiological)Hormonal (Physiological)

– Internal Subjective Experience Internal Subjective Experience (Psychological)(Psychological)

Study Objective #1

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORICAL LANDMARKS IN THE STUDY OF EMOTIONSTUDY OF EMOTION

Phineas Gage Case – 1848Phineas Gage Case – 1848 Darwin’s Publication Darwin’s Publication On the Expression of On the Expression of

Emotion in Man and Animals, Emotion in Man and Animals, 18721872 James/Lange theory, late 19James/Lange theory, late 19thth century century Cannon/Bard theory, early 20Cannon/Bard theory, early 20thth century century Sham rage experiments by Bard, 1929Sham rage experiments by Bard, 1929 Limbic System involvement in emotion as Limbic System involvement in emotion as

depicted by Papez, 1937depicted by Papez, 1937 Kluver-Bucy Syndrome described, 1939Kluver-Bucy Syndrome described, 1939

THEORIES OF EMOTIONTHEORIES OF EMOTION DarwinDarwin

– Comparative studies of emotional expressionComparative studies of emotional expression– Evolutionary theory of emotionEvolutionary theory of emotion

James-Lange TheoryJames-Lange Theory– emphasis on physiological changes emphasis on physiological changes – stimulus-->autonomic response-->emotionstimulus-->autonomic response-->emotion

Canon-Bard TheoryCanon-Bard Theory– emphasis on central processesemphasis on central processes– Stimulus produces simultaneous autonomic and Stimulus produces simultaneous autonomic and

emotional reactions that are not necessarily emotional reactions that are not necessarily causally related.causally related.

THEORIES OF EMOTIONTHEORIES OF EMOTION

Study Objective #2

THEORIES OF EMOTIONTHEORIES OF EMOTION Schachter’s Cognitive TheorySchachter’s Cognitive Theory

– The experience of emotion is influenced by The experience of emotion is influenced by cognitive appraisal/interpretation of physiological cognitive appraisal/interpretation of physiological changes.changes.

– Stimuli produce nonspecific arousal that are Stimuli produce nonspecific arousal that are cognitively labeled based on external cues.cognitively labeled based on external cues.

Schachter and Singer (1962)Schachter and Singer (1962)– Epinephrine injections were given to participants Epinephrine injections were given to participants

who then witnessed either a happy or angry who then witnessed either a happy or angry confederate.confederate.

– The environmental context influenced participant’s The environmental context influenced participant’s interpretation/appraisal of the autonomic arousal.interpretation/appraisal of the autonomic arousal.

NEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTIONNEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTION Decorticate rage (sham rage)Decorticate rage (sham rage)

– Bard (1929) studied decorticate cats.Bard (1929) studied decorticate cats.– Aggressive responses were poorly coordinated and Aggressive responses were poorly coordinated and

not directed at particular targetsnot directed at particular targets– Bard concluded that the hypothalamus is critical for Bard concluded that the hypothalamus is critical for

the expression of aggressive responses and the the expression of aggressive responses and the cortex is responsible for inhibiting and directing cortex is responsible for inhibiting and directing those responses.those responses.

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome (1939)Kluver-Bucy Syndrome (1939)– lesions of anterior temporal lobes/amygdalalesions of anterior temporal lobes/amygdala– tameness, lack of feartameness, lack of fear– hyperorality and hypersexualityhyperorality and hypersexuality– Similar syndrome has been observed in humans Similar syndrome has been observed in humans

with amygdala damage.with amygdala damage.

Study Objective #3

NEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTIONNEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTION

LIMBIC SYSTEM LIMBIC SYSTEM (Papez’s circuit)(Papez’s circuit)– amygdalaamygdala– hippocampushippocampus– fornixfornix– septumseptum– hypothalamushypothalamus– cingulate gyruscingulate gyrus– mammillary bodiesmammillary bodies

Study Objective #4

NEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTIONNEUROBIOLOGY OF EMOTION

Autonomic Nervous SystemAutonomic Nervous System– Emotional Specificity??Emotional Specificity??

Uses of polygraphyUses of polygraphy– Control-question techniqueControl-question technique– Guilty-knowledge techniqueGuilty-knowledge technique

AGGRESSIONAGGRESSION FORMS OF AGRESSIONFORMS OF AGRESSION

– Offensive BehaviorsOffensive Behaviors Predatory (related to feeding)Predatory (related to feeding) Social (establishing, maintaining social hierarchy or Social (establishing, maintaining social hierarchy or

territory, related to reproduction)territory, related to reproduction)

– Defensive BehaviorsDefensive Behaviors Intraspecific defenseIntraspecific defense Defensive attacksDefensive attacks Freezing and FlightFreezing and Flight Maternal Defensive BehaviorsMaternal Defensive Behaviors Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment Defensive BuryingDefensive Burying

ANDROGENS AND AGGRESSIONANDROGENS AND AGGRESSION

Castration reduces aggressive behavior in Castration reduces aggressive behavior in male rodents.male rodents.– Testosterone injections reinstate this behavior.Testosterone injections reinstate this behavior.

Studies in human males are less Studies in human males are less convincing.convincing.– Mixed resultsMixed results– Correlational studies --> problematic interpretationCorrelational studies --> problematic interpretation

Testosterone and Social dominanceTestosterone and Social dominance

Study Objective #8

ANDROGENS AND AGGRESSIONANDROGENS AND AGGRESSION

Study Objective #8

SEROTONIN & AGGRESSIONSEROTONIN & AGGRESSION Serotonin levels show negative correlations Serotonin levels show negative correlations

with aggressionwith aggression– Destruction of 5-HT axons in forebrain facilitates Destruction of 5-HT axons in forebrain facilitates

aggressive attack. aggressive attack. – 5-HIAA levels are lower in more aggressive 5-HIAA levels are lower in more aggressive

animals (linked to risky behavior). animals (linked to risky behavior). – Diminished 5-HIAA levels in CSF of people with Diminished 5-HIAA levels in CSF of people with

history of violence and impulsive aggression. history of violence and impulsive aggression. SSRIs and violent actsSSRIs and violent acts

– mostly anecdotal reports and media hypemostly anecdotal reports and media hype– SSRIs actually decrease aggressive behavior. SSRIs actually decrease aggressive behavior.

Study Objective #7

FEAR CONDITIONINGFEAR CONDITIONING

Study Objective #5

NEUROBIOLOGY OF FEARNEUROBIOLOGY OF FEAR

AMYGDALAAMYGDALA– Subdivided into several nuclei. Subdivided into several nuclei.

Central Nucleus, Lateral NucleusCentral Nucleus, Lateral Nucleus

– Electrical/chemical stimulation of the Electrical/chemical stimulation of the amygdala elicits emotional responsesamygdala elicits emotional responses

– Amygdala lesions disrupt wide range of Amygdala lesions disrupt wide range of emotional behaviors and physiological emotional behaviors and physiological responsesresponses

– Lesions of the central nucleus and the lateral Lesions of the central nucleus and the lateral nucleus abolish conditioned fear. nucleus abolish conditioned fear.

NEURAL CIRCUITRY OF FEARNEURAL CIRCUITRY OF FEAR

e.g., Freezing HR/BP Cortisol

Study Objective #6

NEURAL CIRCUITRY OF FEARNEURAL CIRCUITRY OF FEAR

Study Objective #6

STRESS & HEALTHSTRESS & HEALTH

Defining StressDefining Stress– Cluster of physiological responses to threat or Cluster of physiological responses to threat or

harmharm Both physical and psychological stressors produce Both physical and psychological stressors produce

similar patterns of physiological changes.similar patterns of physiological changes. Acute stress is adaptive.Acute stress is adaptive. Chronic stress is maladaptive.Chronic stress is maladaptive.

– Stress response Stress response First described by Hans Selye, 1950s First described by Hans Selye, 1950s Activation of Hypothalamus-Anterior Pituitary-Adrenal Activation of Hypothalamus-Anterior Pituitary-Adrenal

Cortex System (HPA axis)Cortex System (HPA axis)– Feedback loop involving actions of CRH, ACTH, and cortisol Feedback loop involving actions of CRH, ACTH, and cortisol

HPA axisHPA axis

Study Objective #9

STRESS & HEALTHSTRESS & HEALTH

Hormonal Responses to StressHormonal Responses to Stress– Glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) from adrenal Glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) from adrenal

cortexcortex assists with metabolism to provide energyassists with metabolism to provide energy increases blood flowincreases blood flow stimulates behavioral responsivenessstimulates behavioral responsiveness

– Sympathetic activation (norepinephrine) and Sympathetic activation (norepinephrine) and epinephrine from adrenal medulla epinephrine from adrenal medulla Epinephrine influences glucose metabolism.Epinephrine influences glucose metabolism. Catecholamines increase blood flow to muscles Catecholamines increase blood flow to muscles

by increasing heart output.by increasing heart output.

Study Objective #10

STRESS RESPONSESSTRESS RESPONSES

HORMONAL RESPONSES TO HORMONAL RESPONSES TO SOCIAL STRESSSOCIAL STRESS

Study Objective #13

ADAPTATION TO STRESSADAPTATION TO STRESS

General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye)– Alarm Stage: fight or flight reaction– Resistance: adaptation, immune responses – Exhaustion: energy depletion, immune system

suppression

ADAPTATION TO STRESSADAPTATION TO STRESS

STRESS & HEALTHSTRESS & HEALTH PsychoneuroimmunologyPsychoneuroimmunology

– CNS influences on immune function (through CNS influences on immune function (through ANS and HPA axis)ANS and HPA axis)

– Immune system influences on CNS (antibodies Immune system influences on CNS (antibodies and cytokines influence brain activity)and cytokines influence brain activity)

Study Objective #11

PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGYPSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY

STRESS AND HEALTHSTRESS AND HEALTH Prolonged elevations in stress hormones Prolonged elevations in stress hormones

may cause deleterious effects:may cause deleterious effects:– prolonged inc. bp ---> heart diseaseprolonged inc. bp ---> heart disease– muscle tissue damagemuscle tissue damage– growth retardationgrowth retardation– inhibition of inflammatory responses, slower healing, inhibition of inflammatory responses, slower healing,

immunosuppressionimmunosuppression– increased cell death in hippocampus (may accelerate increased cell death in hippocampus (may accelerate

aging processes)aging processes)

Stress related diseasesStress related diseases– Gastric UlcersGastric Ulcers– CancersCancers– Heart DiseaseHeart Disease

Study Objective #12

STRESS AND HEALTHSTRESS AND HEALTH

Study Objective #12