1.3.4 Emotions

Emotions

1.3.4

Poll

Which Spongebob are you feeling today?

• Happy! Today is a good day :)

• I'm okay, but I'm hoping the day gets

• I'm not doing too good today :/

• I'm not having a good day :(

Objectives

Learners can:

• examine the parts of the brain that compose the limbic system

• identify how different parts of the brain respond to different emotions

• differentiate between human emotional responses and the emotional responses of other animals

• brain

• cerebrum

• neurologist

Prerequisite Vocab

• emotion

• limbic system

New Vocab

Vocabulary

a state of mind based on someone's circumstances, mood, or connection with others

Emotion

a set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory

Limbic System

An emotion is a state of mind based on someone's circumstances, mood, or connection with others. Some emotions may be very specific, such as feeling happy or angry toward a particular person or situation. Other emotions may be more general, such as feeling joyful or sad. Humans have as many as 27 different emotions!

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Emotions

Limbic System

The limbic system is a set of structures in the brain that deal with emotions and memory. The four main parts of the limbic system are:

• hypothalamus

• amygdala

• thalamus

• hippocampus

• controls unconscious activities

• impacts the fight or flight response within an organism.

Hypothalamus

• known as the aggression center

• feelings like anger, violence, fear, and anxiety come from here

Amygdala

• acts as a relay station for sensory signals

• like a subway for senses

​​Thalamus

• converts short-term memory to long-term memory

Hippocampus

Match

Match the statement with the part of the limbic system that is being described.

• hypothalamus

• hippocampus

• thalamus

• amygdala

unconscious functions & fight or flight

stores memory that triggers emotion

routes sensory inputs to the brain

fear, anxiety, and anger start here

• unconscious functions & fight or flight

• stores memory that triggers emotion

• routes sensory inputs to the brain

• fear, anxiety, and anger start here

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum. The cerebral cortex is divided into two halves, called hemispheres. Research has found that positive emotions cause more activity in the left side of the brain, while negative emotions cause increased activity in the right side. This understanding has allowed scientists to better understand how individual personalities may appear in someone.

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Cerebral Cortex

The cerebral cortex can also be divided based on how different areas function. For example, the part of the brain just behind the forehead is called the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain allows for higher-level thinking, which helps set humans apart from other animals.

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Pre-frontal Cortex

Human Emotions

The Limbic System

The limbic system is found in the brain of every animal. The system is found in the cerebrum, below the cerebral cortex. In most animals, the amygdala has significant control over the behavior of that organism. This means that most animals will often respond to a situation by exhibiting emotions such as fear or aggression. Humans also have the amygdala structure in the brain and experience these same emotions. However, humans will often not respond to situations the same way an animal does.

Multiple Choice

Why are humans able to experience an emotional reaction to things such as art and music while other animals cannot?

• 
  Humans lack an amygdala that can trigger extreme negative emotions.

• 
  Other animals are incapable of experiencing any type of emotion.

• 
  Only humans possess the limbic system in their brains to experience an emotional reaction.

• 
  Humans have a highly developed brain that connects experiences and emotions.