Dr. David Anderson: The Biology of Aggression, Mating, & Arousal | Episode 89
Main Takeaways
- Emotions, arousal, and sleep are types of internal states that change the input/output transformation of the brain.
- Emotion is a neurobiological process, not just a "feeling."
- The feeling of emotion is the tip of the iceberg, while the part below the surface is the neurobiological process.
- Emotion states have dimensions of arousal, intensity, and valence.
- Motivation states are specific and include finding and eating food, finding and drinking water, etc.
- Valence is less about specific neurotransmitters and more about which circuits are involved.
- Aggression is more about describing behavior than the internal state and can reflect fear, anger, hunger (in animals), etc.
- Fear and aggression neurons sit close together in the brain, and fear can elicit arousal in aggressive behavior.
- Accumulated pressure can come from something you're deprived of and need or something you want to do driving pressure.
- Social isolation increases aggressiveness and the level of tachykinin in the brain, which can lead to increased irritability, paranoia, and fear.
