Abstract This paper examines the question of which areas of the brain are engaged by emotional stimuli. The preliminary hypothesis supported is that every region of the brain is activated by emotional stimuli and that, secondarily, each region of the brain is activated in a different manner by different stimuli. It proposes to prove that notion that every region of the brain does not act similarly in response to various emotional stimuli, but most regions will react in some manner, since the amygdala ,for example, will react more aggressively to certain forms of emotional stimuli than others.
From the Paper "The study "Neural Correlates of Person Recognition" identified the regions of the brain that are activated by emotional stimuli in an abstract manner. In this study participants were examined to assess their ability to recognize people by viewing their faces, and the subsequent brain activity required to retrieve person specific information was compared and contrasted. Functional MRI imaging showed that several regions of the brain responded to familiar emotional stimuli or faces, including the following: left hippocampus, left middle temporal gyrus, left insula, and bilateral cerebellum (Paller, et. al, 2003). Brain activity was much more active in various regions for emotional stimuli that were personal or familiar in nature."
Abstract One of the most valuable human qualities is the will to survive. Case histories of life-threatening situations have demonstrated that stubborn, strong will power is often the key to conquering dangerous conditions. The paper shows, however, that the will to survive also manifests in the human physiology. Hunger, sweating and panic are good examples of anatomical responses to danger. These actions are largely uncontrolled. The paper argues, therefore, that the will to survive is not simply a human trait, it is also an instinct.
From the Paper "However, by stopping the sweating mechanism, the body is making a drastic attempt to prevent further water loss by initiating absolute conservation of water. This physiologically-initiated method of survival actually prolongs the person's ability to survive in that it allows him extra time to replenish his fluids. If the body continued sweating, the fluid loss level would reach 15 percent, the blood volume would fall below sustainable levels and the organs would simply die."
Abstract This paper describes anterograde and retrograde amnesia and the causes of this disorder. The paper explores the areas of the brain involved, and describes studies from brain-damaged patients from whom this information has been established. The paper discusses temporally graded retrograde amnesia, and how it affects long-term memory, as well as temporary forms of amnesia.
From the Paper "Anterograde amnesia is characterized by a loss of memory for events which occurred following injury to the brain, whereas retrograde amnesia is characterized by a loss of memory for events which occurred before a brain injury."
Abstract This paper relates that the sense of smell is related to spatial memory in a residual feature shared with other vertebrates that are also able to recognize and become reoriented towards a place by way of olfactory reminders. The author points out that only two synapses separate the human olfactory nerve from the amygdala involved in emotion and emotional memory, and only three synapses separate the olfactory nerve from the hippocampus implicated in memory and especially, working and long term memory. The paper states that neurobiological and other studies pertaining to olfaction and memory have explored such topics as social membership, interaction and recognition.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Indications of Evolution
Amnosmia
More on Human Olfaction and Other Primates
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper "This 'Proust Effect' has been noted in various other kinds of survivors and often, many years after other reminders of unwanted, often terrible experiences have subsided. A particular smell of which the person may barely be aware till encountered can create intense emotional memories and upset. It is known that olfactory neurons are unmyleinated as makes them the slowest of those associated with the different senses but also makes perceived smells last longer than those of vision or audition. "
Abstract This paper explains that, although the initial diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was related to war veterans, this diagnosis has been extended to the general population including sufferers of childhood sexual abuse. The author points out that the increased understanding of memory and the areas of the brain involved in long term and short term storage has enhanced the understanding of this disorder. The author hypothesizes that people who do not suffer from PTSD have attached some type of contextual meaning to what they witnessed or have modulated the memory to incorporate a meaning that is greater than simply "what happened". The paper discuses common methods of treatment such as exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and various drugs.
From the Paper "From this research, two important parts of the brain stand out; the hippocampus and the amygdala. First, it is necessary to discuss these organs and their importance to memory and brain functioning, then connections can be made to PTSD. The amygdalae are two almond shaped bundles of neurons that are located in an area of the brain known as the medial temporal lobe. Its primary function is in the formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events. Studies involving the functioning of the amygdala sometimes involve the fear response in rats."
