4.2 From neurobiology to mental health
In this video, recorded at the 2013 TEDx conference in Seattle, USA, Jaak Panksepp talks about his work on emotions in animals. He begins by giving an insight into the very human problems that initially attracted his interest in this area. He also discusses some ways in which the insights obtained from studying emotions in animals could be applied to the treatment of human mental health problems, such as depression.
Activity 6 Considering applications of research into emotions in animals
Based on Panksepp’s explanations in the video you have just watched, answer the following questions (typing your answers in the boxes provided).
1. What purpose do emotions serve?
Answer
Panksepp argues that emotions are experienced as either rewarding or aversive, and so serve the purpose of motivating the animal to behave in a certain way. Behaviours that are beneficial to survival give positive emotional experiences and are therefore repeated, while behaviours that are detrimental to survival are avoided.
2. How might primal emotions relate to mental health issues?
Answer
Panksepp identifies some direct relationships between primal emotions and mental health issues. Fear is related to anxiety, and panic (or grief) is related to panic attacks and depression. Panksepp also draws out a more general relationship: a lack of experiencing the ‘care’ emotion in childhood may lead to psychological problems in adulthood.
3. How might an understanding of emotions be applied to helping people with mental health issues?
Answer
Identifying the body’s natural chemical responses to emotion (e.g. the role of
Human emotional responses, particularly the range of emotion-related behaviours that can be involved in mental health issues, are more complex than those emotional responses of other animals with less complex brains. However, the work of neuroscientists such as Panksepp shows how the emotional aspects of human lives are reflected in other species, and how using animal models can provide useful insights into how human problems arise and can be addressed.
In Sections 3 and 4 of this course, you have been introduced to ideas from evolutionary theory and comparative psychology. You’ve learned how these ideas relate to questions about animal minds, in particular the question of animals’ experience of emotions.
You’ve also learned how studying the brain can allow psychologists to make inferences about the emotional experiences of animals.
In the next section of this course you will consider another key aspect of the mind: the ability to reason and solve problems.
Just like emotions, reasoning and problem-solving may initially seem uniquely human, but they are abilities that have evolved. They may therefore be present, to some extent, in other species.