The Neuroscience of Emotions

AP Psychology

What are Emotions?

• Emotion –A four-part process consisting of physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation, subjective feelings, and behavioral expression.

Cultural Universals in Emotional Expression• Paul Ekman (leading

researcher on this topic)

• People everywhere can recognize at least seven basic emotions: sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt, happiness and surprise.

Cultural Universals in Emotional Expression• Display rules –

Permissible ways of displaying emotions in a particular society. Emotions you present to others.

Robert Plutchik: The Emotional Wheel pg. 301• Inner ring: 8 primary emotions• Outer ring: Complex emotions

The Biological Mechanisms at Work Behind our Emotions:• 1. The Limbic System= Control of

emotions…Amygdala evaluates whether the stimuli represents a threat.

• 2. The Cerebral Cortex= “thinking center” of the brain. Evaluates the meaning of emotionally arousing stimuli and it plans and directs how to respond to the stimuli.

The Biological Mechanisms at Work Behind our Emotions:• 3. The Autonomic Nervous System=

Contains the Parasympathetic N.S./pleasant emotions.

• Sympathetic N.S./ unpleasant emotions.• 4. Hormones= Examples: Serotonin

(Depression) and Epinephrine (Fear)

Theories about “how” we experience emotions

Theory #1

• James-Lange theory–A provoking stimulus produces a physical response that, in turn, produces an emotion

• 1st : Physical• 2nd: Emotion

Theory #2

• Cannon-bard theory – An emotional feeling and an internal physiological response occur at the same time• One is not the cause of the other

Theory #3

• Schachter’s Two-factor theory of emotion Emotion results from the cognitive appraisal of both (1) physical arousal and (2) emotion provoking stimulus.

• Think about how we physical feel and we think about the actual event.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Emotionfear

Cognitive interpretation“I feel afraid!”

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

James-Lange theory

Cannon-bard

theory

Two-factor theory

Stimulussnake

Stimulussnake

Stimulus

Emotionfear

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

Emotionfear

Theory #4

• Cognitive appraisal theory –Theory that individuals decide on an appropriate emotion following the event

• Conscious• Was the event in our favor?• Ex. Reading the written comments your

teacher made on an assignment.

Theory #5

• Opponent-process theory – Theory that emotions have pairs; when one is triggered the other is suppressed