Emotions

I. General Overview
An emotional response consists of three types of components:
behavioral, autonomic, and hormonal (controlled by the amygdala.
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 (%E,
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.