Physiology of Emotion Fig. . : James-Lange Theory of Emotion Perception of physiological changes Emotion experienced Fear Increased heart rate, perspiration Road accident Stimulus Specific physiological changes activity and secretion of endocrine glands, and organises the somatic pattern of emotional behaviour. Limbic System : Along with thalamus and hypothalamus the limbic system plays a vital role in regulation of emotion.
Amygdala is a part of limbic system, responsible for emotional control and involves formation of emotional memories. Cortex : Cortex is intimately involved in emotions. However, its hemispheres have a contrasting role to play. The left frontal cortex is associated with positive feelings whereas the right frontal cortex with negative feelings.
systems function together in a reciprocal manner. In a stressful situation the sympathetic system prepares the body to face the situation. It strengthens the internal environment of the individual by controlling the fall in heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. It induces a state of physiological arousal that prepares the individual for fight or flight response in order to face the stressful situation.
As the threat is removed the parasympathetic system gets active and restores the balance by calming the body. It restores and conserves energy and brings the individual back to a normal state. Though acting in an antagonistic manner, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are complementary to each other in completing the process of experience and expression of emotion. C OGNITIVE B ASES OF E MOTIONS Most psychologists today believe that our cognitions, i.e.
our perceptions, memories, interpretations are essential ingredients of emotions. Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer have proposed a two-factor theory in which emotions have two ingredients: physical arousal and a cognitive label. They presumed that our experience of emotion grows from our awareness of our present arousal. They also believed that emotions are physiologically similar.
For example, your Fig. . : Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion Stimulus Thalamus Cerebral cortex Subjective experience of the emotion Physiological changes enabling action Sympathetic nervous system, Muscles Lie detectors are also called polygraphs because they graphically record several bodily reactions simultaneously which measure the bodily arousal of the individual. Typically a lie detector measures changes in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and depth, and the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) which indicates variations in the electrical conductivity of the skin.
The individual being tested is first asked a series of neutral (control) questions to establish the baseline. Simple questions are followed by specific questions that are designed to evoke responses from a guilty knowledge supposedly indicating the individual’s involvement in the .