PS264 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Locus Coeruleus, Limbic System, Electrodermal Activity
Document Summary
Prefrontal cortex: the prefrontal cortex has been linked to the executive function of the brain, this means that it is involved in goal-directed behaviour, e. g. ) The autonomic nervous system: the autonomic nervous system is responsible for physiological changes that occur when a person is in a state of arousal, e. g. ) Problem solving or a sporting competition: even high levels of arousal can be pleasurable for short periods, but when it prolongs, the stress response emerges. Arousal and performance: according to the yerkes-dodson law, high arousal tends to facilitate performance on easy or simple tasks whereas low arousal tends to facilitate performance on difficult or complex tasks, u-shaped function. It has been found that motor performance is often superior at high versus moderate levels of arousal. Optimal stimulation and individual goals: apter has argued that the level of stimulation that people prefer depends on their goals, people tend to swing back and forth between low and high arousal states.
