1) Describe what part(s) of the brain each of Riley’s emotions represent (lobe, brain part, system,

etc.—can be multiple ones!):

a) Joy - Imaging studies suggest that the happiness response originates partly in the limbic cortex.
Another area called the precuneus also plays a role. The precuneus is involved in retrieving
memories, maintaining your sense of self, and focusing your attention as you move about your
environment.
b) Sadness - Sadness and depression seem to involve the same brain region, the left prefrontal
cortex, in different ways
c) Fear - This response is generated by stimulation of the amygdala, followed by the hypothalamus.
Therefore, some people with brain damage affecting their amygdala don’t always respond
appropriately to dangerous scenarios.
d) Disgust – Generally, disgust is expressed by the amygdala.
e) Anger - Anger starts with the amygdala stimulating the hypothalamus, much like in the fear
response. In addition, parts of the prefrontal cortex may also play a role in anger. People with
damage to this area often have trouble controlling their emotions, especially anger and
aggression.
2) For each of the following terms, define the topic and describe how it is portrayed in the movie:
a) Episodic Memories – it is the memory of autobiographical events that can be explicitly stated or
conjured. This is shown in Riley remembering her old house and old life
b) Flashbulb memories – it is a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid 'snapshot' of the moment and
circumstances in which a piece of surprising and consequential news was heard. This appeared
when she was told she was moving.
c) Insight – When the solution to a problem comes to you in an all-of-a-sudden manner, it can be
considered insight. This could happen with Riley’s internal emotions and when Riley decided to
run away.
d) Long term memory – refers to the unlimited capacity memory store that can hold information
over lengthy periods of time. This is displayed in the headquarters of Riley’s head
e) Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve/Memory Decay – the rate at which memories are lost over time.
This is shown in the pit of memories in Riley’s head
f) Stream of Consciousness – style of writing is marked by the sudden rise of thoughts and lack of
punctuation. This is shown when Joy speaks without thinking
g) Subconscious/unconscious mind – part of consciousness that is not currently in focal awareness.
This is shown while Riley dreams
h) Brain plasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt to change across the lifespan and to rewire itself
after damage. This is shown when Riley gets her islands back
3) Throughout the film we get to see new memories come into the “control center” all day long in the
shape of bright colorful orbs. At the end of each day a single emotion (Joy takes the first shift) is put
on “long term memory” and “dream duty” where a lever is pulled, and all the short-term memories
gathered throughout the day are sent down to long term. Our hippocampus, the memory center of
the brain, acts to create and consolidate our memories. Without good rest the hippocampus
struggles with memory consolidation, making sleep crucial in cementing what we’ve experienced
throughout the day, they do this in the form of orbs in Riley. “Inside Out” gives a view into the
simplicity of emotions when we are young and how they become more complex as we age. Riley’s
control panel starts off very basic, there are only five emotions and only one of them can be at the
 controls at any point in time. We also see at various times in the movie that adults have a larger
control panel than Riley.
4) Joy uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as Sadness tends to be sad because she thinks sad thoughts
5) Nightmares and Night Terrors about moving to a new house
6) The transfer of memories from STM to LTM was portrayed by a guided system that takes the orbs
that are created and sends it to the big area of memories
7) Fear and Disgust are used to keep us weary of harmful and distasteful things in order to keep us
living and to learn
8) Riley’s parents are authoritative because whenever she disrespected them she was grounded and
went to her room.
9) The memories that Joy found in the dump were old memories that Riley had forgot about and
doesn’t remember
10) If Riley was dominated by fear she would probably have anxiety and be antisocial, fear would cause
her to probably be pessimistic and have a quantity of phobias. If Riley was dominated by Anger she
would probably be Bipolar as sometimes she would be happy but since she would be mainly
controlled by Anger she would be angry and violent most of the time. People would tend to stay
away from her as she would be rude and frightening to other people.
11) Headquarters seems to play a much more modulatory role in Riley, coloring her experiences with
emotions, remembering events, recalling events, and inputting emotions into the control panel that
then dictates how Riley reacts. Rather, Headquarters fits much more into the role of the limbic
system. The headquarters changed as she got older and got more complex so I would assume it will
continue to do such as she gets older.
12) If Riley were to sustain a major head injury, she may affect her medulla oblongata which could make
her have a hard time breathing. This injury may cause Riley to be overwhelmed by Fear or Sadness
or even Anger.
13) How would each of the following substances affect the characters that represent Riley’s emotions?
Explain why Riley might need that substance if it has a *.
a) Thorazine – It can cause Riley’s emotions to be stable and not be over-dramatic in the actions
they take, If Riley becomes Schizophrenic or Bipolar, she may need it.
b) Xanax – It could cause fear to be less scared and less fearful, If Riley gains anxiety issues, she
may need this.
c) Paxil – This could cause Fear or Sadness to be more on the spectrum of Joy, Riley may need this
if she would become depressed.
d) Morphine – Used to treat pain and may affect Anger and Joy as Anger would be reduced as pain
is being numbed and Joy would be increased for the same reason. Riley may need this if she is in
severe pain.
e) Lithium – It is used to treat mania so it would affect Anger and Joy, this would then stabilize
them and keep them in check instead of abnormal levels. Riley may need this if she were to
become Bipolar.
f) Ecstasy – This could cause all the emotions to fluctuate and act abnormal or make irrational
decisions.
g) Cocaine - The effect is described as euphoric with increased energy, reduced fatigue, and
heightened mental alertness. Users may be talkative, extraverted, and have a loss of appetite or
need for sleep, so all the emotions could be affected.
 h) LSD – it is a mind-altering drug. It is thought LSD causes its characteristic hallucinogenic effects
via interaction with the serotonin receptors in the brain. This would affect all emotions and
cause them to act abnormally.
i) Alcohol - it interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain
looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior and make it harder to think
clearly and move with coordination. All emotions could be affected in different ways.
14) If Joy had not made it out the memory dump then Fear, Disgust, and Anger would have ruined
Riley’s life and cause her whole life to take another direction as she could never feel happiness or
sadness again. She would possibly be eventually diagnosed with some sort of conduct disorder and
eventually be diagnosed in adulthood with antisocial personality disorder.