Emotions emotional facial expressions evolutionary explanation Emotions emotional

Emotions � emotional facial expressions ◦ evolutionary explanation

Emotions � emotional facial expressions ◦ evolutionary explanation � role of right hemisphere

Emotions � emotional facial expressions ◦ evolutionary explanation � role of right hemisphere ◦ recognition of emotion brain damage – functional imaging studies ◦ display of emotions brain damage functional imaging studies ◦ chimera

Chimeras of chimps in various moods

Other interesting data � left side of face even shows emotion sooner than right side

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Emotions �emotional facial expressions ◦ evolutionary explanation �role of right hemisphere ◦ recognition of emotion ◦ display of emotions ◦ chimera �brain damaged humans

brain regions involved in emotion � limbic system- ◦ components of limbic system- includes hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, olfactory bulbs, septum � sits within the temporal lobe ◦ temporal lobe epilepsy

Stress � What is it? ◦ stress is the nonspecific response of the body to any demand placed on it � What are some of the variables that contribute to how we respond to stress?

Two systems activated during stress and emotion 1. Sympathetic Nervous system ◦ activates adrenal glands to release E, NE, and other catecholamines into blood

Are there consequences of repeated sympathetic activation? � perhaps………

As a side note – sympathetic activation is also an indicator of arousal � Physiological � lie measures of arousal detector tests

What do they measure? Are there problems with these tests?

2. HPA Axis - (hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal) axis causes the release of “stress” hormones (corticosteroids) cortisol - in humans corticosterone - in rats

negative feedback loop

Overactivation of either system can have negative (hypothalamus) consequences

Psychosomatic Illnesses � real illnesses that are exacerbated by stress- ◦ these can be potentially life threatening

Psychosomatic Illnesses � ulcers � heart disease � asthma � various skin conditions -

Fields of interest � Behavioral medicine � Psychoneuroimmunology

Does stress have adverse effects on the CNS? � Sapolsky ◦ vervet monkeys - 1989

Eight vervet monkeys, housed in a primate center in Kenya, died spontaneously from 1964 to 1966, were found at necropsy to have multiple gastric ulcers; a retrospective, neuropathological study was then done of this opportunistic population. Compared with controls euthanized for other research purposes, ulcerated monkeys had marked hippocampal degeneration that was apparent both quantitatively and qualitatively, and both ultrastructurally and on the lightmicroscopic level. Minimal damage occurred outside the hippocampus.

Does stress have adverse effects on the CNS? � Sapolsky ◦ vervet monkeys - 1989 gastric ulcers, overactive adrenal gland, degeneration and depletion of hippocampal neurons

What about chronic stress in humans and CNS? � Cushings Syndrome - ◦ increased glucocorticoid release (can be reversed with treatment) � PTSD - � Depressed patients

How might this happen? � Increased cortisol or corticosterone ◦ increase Ca+2 influx increased risk of overexcitation

Sapolsky � Rat studies -

What about stress and immune function?

Can stress disrupt immune function? � Yes- clinical data and animal studies

Do these changes following acute stressors impact health?

What about more chronic stressors? � Chronic stress situations ◦ examples: Is this associated with increased susceptibility to disease?

Chronic stress affects immune response in terms of illness incidence and recovery

Role of Optimism � Segerstrom

Role of Optimism � Segerstrom ◦ law students during their first semester ◦ optimism associated with increased n of helper T cells increased natural killer cell activity