Hypothalamus and Limbic System, Lecture 2

Emotion and reward

Lecture 2:  Emotion and Reward in the Limbic System

Darwin and emotion

William James on emotion

Theories of emotion

Theories of Emotion (2)

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion and sham rage

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion and sham rage (2)

Two theories of emotion

Hypothalamus and emotion

What triggers the hypothalamus (and other brain areas) to modulate emotional behavior?

Limbic system anatomy

Limbic system anatomy (cont.)

The amygdala is a key coordinator of emotional behavior

The amygdala and Kluver-Bucy syndrome

Amygdala lesions and monkey emotional behavior

The amygdala in humans has been linked to emotional processing

The amygdala in humans has been linked to emotional processing (2)

Fear conditioning is a tool for investigating neural substrates of emotion.

Classic Experiments from Watson and Rayner demonstrating fear conditioning in an infant

Fear conditioning in humans modulates skin conductance responses

Fear conditioning in rodents.

The amygdala has appropriate anatomical connections for mediating fear conditioning

Amygdala stimulation produces emotional behaviors through subcortical pathways

Numerous lines of evidence implicate the lateral nucleus of the amygdala in fear conditioning

The amygdala may also modulate emotional memories stored elsewhere

A schematic model for how hormonal systems can modulate memory storage via the amygdala

Emotional behavior and positive reward

Electrical self-stimulation and reward

Neurophysiological recordings from ventral tegmental neurons

VTA neurons provide a learning signal

Drugs of abuse increase dopamine release in the brain

Nicotine and cocaine modulate self-stimulation behavior

Brain reward circuitry and self-stimulation

Summary of Emotion and Reward in the Limbic System