Biopsychology of Emotions: Neural Basis of Fear

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Biopsychology of Emotions Neural Basis of Fear
Anxiety
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• The Limbic System (coined by Paul Broca Le
  Grande Lobe Limbique)
• 1. Hippocampus
• 2. Nucleus Accumbens
• 3. Mamillary Bodies
• 4. Hypothalamus
• 5. Prefrontal Cortex
• 6. Cingulate Cortex
• 7. Amygdala

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• The Papez Circuit (1937)

Frontal Cortex
Cingulate Cortex
Hippocampus
Thalamus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
information
Expression of emotion
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• Hippocampus determines the emotional relevance
  of incoming stimuli from the frontal cortex and
  the cingulate cortex
• - involved in Declarative Memory (cold hard
  facts) taken in from cortical are
• sensory 2/3 areas
  hippocampus (LTP)
• Amygdala responsible for elaborating on the
  emotional response and directing the
  hypothalamus to respond, BUT it also plays
  another important role.

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• Precognitive Circuit (LaDouxs elaboration of the
  Papez Circuit)

Frontal Cortex
Cingulate Cortex
Hippocampus
Thalamus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
information
Expression of emotion
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• Role of Amygdala in Precognitive Circuit
• - Basic Emotional Response without the
  cognitive link
• BUTit begins the formation of
• Emotional Memory
• When the sensory information from the
  Cognitive Circuit is activated, the focus of the
  stimuli associated with the emotional response
  from the Precognitive Circuit becomes relevant
  and conditioning occurs.

Thalamus Amygdala (LTP)
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• Precognitive Circuit
• - necessary for survival -- reflexive response
• - induces a response long before the information
  is processed via the regular (cognitive circuit)
• - active early in life before cognitive circuit
  is developed
• - involved in the formation of Emotional Memory
• (note in hippocampus develops about age one)
• Cognitive Circuit
• - provides the thinking and reasoning component
  linked to the emotional response (formation of
  Declarative Memory)
• - can induce a maladaptive behavioral response
  if the cognitive aspect becomes linked to the
  reflexive response of the Precognitive Circuit.

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Fear Anxiety Response 3 Components

• Afferent System Input. Sensory input occurs,
  allowing for the assessment of the nature of the
  stimulus.
• Stimulus Processing System The
  cognitive-emotional significance of the stimulus
  and the behavioral response are linked. It
  incorporates the following
• Prior experiences (memory) with
• Affective significance of the current stimulus
  and
• Selection or mobilization of the adaptive
  behavioral response (or output to the Efferent
  System)
• Efferent Projection System Output. It mediates
  the following
• Neuroendocrine response
• Autonomic response
• Skeletal motor response

Activated to Facilitate Survival
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• What Central Nervous Areas make up the the
  following?
• Afferent System
• Stimulus Processing System
• Efferent System

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Cognitive Circuit
Precognitive Circuit
Feedback
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• How does this model explain the fear and anxiety
  response?
• What part makes up the Precognitive Circuit?
• What part makes up the Cognitive Circuit?
• Why is this a parallel model?