Executive Function IV

Question 1

What is hypothalamus connected with

Answer 1

hypothalamus has reciprocal connections with forebrain limbic structures
And with brainstem and sc
Also controls output pituitary gland

Question 2

what is hypothalamus key node in

Answer 2

pathways concerned with autonomic, endocrine, somatic and motivation functional concerned with maintained of homeostasis
= physiological states
Master controller of things that control tehse states

Question 3

what does hypothalamus do = body temp ex

Answer 3

Hypothalamus determines deviation of internal body state from set point
(37c for body temp)
Initiates autonomic-endocrine bevahiorual responses to correct errro

Question 4

what does hypothalamus do = body temp ex = inputs

Answer 4

huge amount sensory input
= temperature sensors (body sensors and also neurons in hypothalamus that are sensitive to temp)
Then = compares to internal set point of hypothalamus (differential amplifier - if deviation = outputs to bring temp back to set point)

Question 5

what does hypothalamus do = body temp ex = outputs generally and what happens

Answer 5

If cold
1= to pituitary gland = release hormone, like thyroxin
2= to brainstem = control regions —> control ans = physiological and autonomic responses/reflexes - shivering, changes in blood flow
3= connections with cortex = influences behaviour = put on sweater

Question 6

what does hypothalamus do = body temp ex = when sick and fever

Answer 6

Fever —> immune system acts on hypothalamus to increase step point - now 40c
So get chills, and shiver and body temp rises to new set point
After fever breaks — sweat bc now too hot compared to set point

Question 7

where does hypothalamus project

Answer 7

Autonomic neurons and cpgs in brainstem and sc to coordinate autonomic reflexes and stereotyped behaviours involved in drive related responses and homeostatic control
Hierarchical organization of Outputs related to automatic outputs related to homeostasis

Question 8

what brainstem structures involved - hypothalamus

Answer 8

Nucleus of solitary tract
Parabrachial nucleus
And pag
= regions involved in interception - involved in response to threats to homeostasis

Question 9

what does hypothalamus coordinate

Answer 9

Responses which are expressed
But responses themselves are organized in brainstem structures
Ex = scared cat = pag coordinates pilo erection, hissing and arching of back

Question 10

define amygdala

Answer 10

Key interface bewteen autonomic response, emotions, conscious feeling and their relation to leaning
Fear Learning

Question 11

where is amygdala

Answer 11

Anterior to hippo
Inside medial temporal lobe = inside uncus

Question 12

where is hippocampus

Answer 12

Medial region temporal lobe
Parahippocampal gyrus

Question 13

describe conditioned fear leaning paradigm

Answer 13

Rat hears tone followed by foot shock
Animals learn very fast

Question 14

describe conditioned fear leaning paradigm= after association what happens

Answer 14

Tone elicits physiological and behavioural responses related to fear and arousal
Learning doesn’t happen in amygdala lesions

Question 15

describe conditioned fear leaning paradigm= describe control

Answer 15

measure hr = measure something physiological = arousal
After pairing a few time s= learns tone predicts foot shock
Make neutral stimulus become associated with physiological response

Question 16

describe conditioned fear leaning paradigm= describe amygdala lesion

Answer 16

If bilateral lesion
= impeded classical conditioning response
Tone doesn’t elicit physiological responses
No more association

Question 17

what does amygdala receive (conditioned fear leaning paradigm)

Answer 17

Receives sensory info about tone and shock from cerebral cortex and from thalamus directly

Question 18

what does amygdala do (conditioned fear leaning paradigm)

Answer 18

Synaptic plasticity in amygdala links tone to shock
Directs learned behavioural (via pag) and physiological (via autonomic and endocrine systems) responses to tone

Question 19

what does amygdala do (conditioned fear leaning paradigm)= describe whole pathway

Answer 19

2 stimuli = tone and shock, both get to amygdala via pathways
Direct = thalamus —> amygdala
Or
Indirect= thalamus —>cortex —> amygdala
In amygdala = highly plastic neurons and makes associations
Then pag and hypothalamus (autonomic system and pituitary)
Modulates physiology

Question 20

humans with amygdala lesions

Answer 20

Similar deficits to ppl with vmpfc lesions
Also have abnormal learning

Question 21

humans with amygdala lesions - ex = response

Answer 21

Don’t show expected physiological/emotion responses (changes in hr, bp, skin conductance) to pics of faces expression various emotion s
Traumatic images,should elicit strong physiological responses - increase in arousal but doesn’t

Question 22

humans with amygdala lesions - ex = remember

Answer 22

Don’t remember emotionally charged pics or emotionally charged stories better than emotionally neutral pics/stories
Exp = show pics - neutral images and mix in emotional ones and then test later = if normal = remember emotional pics better but if amygdala lesion = don’t

Question 23

humans with amygdala lesions - compare to vmpfc functions

Answer 23

Vmpfc = essential for linking emotions and learning to abstract social constructs/concepts
Like fear of taking exam, getting married
Vmpfc = link feeling to constructed values, more abstract
Amygdala = more just fear, sub cortical structures = need for fear response, more automatic

Question 24

humans are

Answer 24

Moral reasoners
= make decision for moral reasons

Question 25

evolutionary psychological hypothesis of Joshua green = describe

Answer 25

We have evolved to think about things in moral terms - make decisions in social contexts based on intrinsically and biologically evolved moral decision marketing intuitions

Question 26

evolutionary psychological hypothesis of Joshua green = 3 aspects

Answer 26

Moral reasoning = expression of set of rain programs that evolved to promote cooperation- live in groups, need to cooperate, build trust, reliability Primarily based on feelings - highest aspect human cognition, highly intuitive (loyalty, justice, respect, purity, disgust) Most ppl motivated by moral reasoning - we all think we are doing the right things for the right reasons

Question 27

2 scenarios = thought exp

Answer 27

Put bleeding person in car - will have to get car cleaned = cost 200, wont drive away bc you think its wrong Get mail = family asking for 200 dollars to help them get food = mostly say no, don’t think you are a bad person tho?? Why World we evolved in = outcomes of lives of people close to you are more important bc then they might help you - not super naturally inclined to help people across world Intuitive decision making process

Question 28

what are moral decisions based on

Answer 28

Intuitions or gut feelings (somatic markers??) Reflect underlying neurobiological/evolutionary foundations of moral decision making

Question 29

ultimatum game

Answer 29

2 subjects in diff rooms and communicate with each other 1= decides how to split money 2= can reject (both get nothing) or accept 9/1 split = typically reject bc not fair But rationally = should accept bc 1 is better than 0 Our intuitive notions of justice are based on ideas like fairness and if someone desires to be rewarded or punished for their actions

Question 30

describe moral dilemmas

Answer 30

Emotional intuitions = built in feelings, mechanisms of social cooperation = help guide our interactions with other people Largely programmed in moral intuitions - shaped by cultural contexts

Question 31

trolley problem

Answer 31

Flip = sacrifice 1, save 5 Most people will flip switch - calculate morally, but you are choosing to kill one person, not super clear in way explained - utilitarianism (best of moral decisions-maximize)

Question 32

footbridge problem

Answer 32

variation trolley problem Now = on bridge and have to push one person in front of train to save 5 people Technically = same moral decision but most people wont choose to push person - so more reluctant :. Not just high level rational calculation - no logical reason, involves intuitions

Question 33

what is activated during trolley problem

Answer 33

Lateral pfc Cold rational decision making

Question 34

what is activated during footbridge problem

Answer 34

Vmpfc Not executive functions - decision making in more moral context