Social Neuroscience

Lec. #13; Social Effects on Physiology

1. Bottom-up versus top-down processing

2. Variables that can affect physiology (cardiovascular, immune system)

A. socio-economic status

B. cognitive / personality (Type A, hostility, optimism, depression)

C. stress

D. social ties

3. Cardiovascular

A. physiology of stress

1) autonomic nervous system; epinephrine (adrenaline)

2) hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenal (HPA) axis; cortisol

3) allostatic load

4) acute vs. chronic stress

B. effects of stress on the cardiovascular system

C. effects of social interaction

1) human correlational studies

2) lab studies

3) intervention studies

4. Immune function

A. overview of the immune system

B. effects of social interaction

1) negative effects (stress)

a. animal studies

b. human correlational studies

2) positive effects

a. human correlational studies

b. Ann’s presenation

c. intervention studies

5. Cognitive appraisal