Emotions

Can anyone tell me what emotions are?

Discussion: Do you think it is important to be able to recognize other peoples
emotions? Why? Suppose that you could no longer recognize peoples facial
expressions of emotions. What consequences would that loss hae for you?
I. General Overview
An emotional response consists of three types of components: behavioral,
autonomic, an hormonal !controlle by the amy"ala#.
1. The behavioral component consists of muscular movements that are
appropriate to the situation that elicits them.
2. Autonomic responses facilitate the behaviors and provide quick
mobilization of energy for vigorous movement.
3. Hormonal responses reinforce the autonomic responses. The
hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla epinephrine and
norepinephrinefurther increase blood flow to the muscles and
cause nutrients stored in the muscles to be converted into glucose.
n addition! the adrenal corte" secretes steroid hormones! which also
help to make glucose available to the muscles.
$EA%
The amygdala plays a special role in physiological and behavioral reactions to
ob#ects and situations that have biological significance! such as
those that warn of pain or other unpleasant consequences or signify
the presence of food! water! salt! potential mates or rivals! or infants
in need of care.
$e need concern ourselves with #ust three ma#or regions% the lateral nucleus, the
basal nucleus, and the central nucleus.
The lateral nucleus !&A# receives information from all regions of the neocorte"!
including the ventromedial prefrontal corte"! the thalamus! and the
hippocampal formation. The lateral nucleus sends information to the
basal nucleus !'# and to other parts of the brain! including the
ventral striatum &a brain region involved in the effects of reinforcing
stimuli on learning' and the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus!
whose pro#ection region is the prefrontal corte". The () and * nuclei
send information to the ventromedial prefrontal corte" and the
central nucleus !CE#, which pro#ects to regions of the hypothalamus!
midbrain! pons! and medulla that are responsible for the e"pression
of the various components of emotional responses.