A brief description of emotions

1. Emotions
By Robin Mukherjee

2. What is
emotion
 A mind and bodies integrated response to a stimulus of some kind
 Involves physiological arousal, expressive behaviours and
conscious experience
 Arousal an increase in reactivity or wakefulness that primes us for
some kind of action

3. Emotions a bit
deeper
 Emotions are lower level responses occurring in the subcortical
regions of the brain (amygdala, which is part of the limbic system)
and the neocortex (ventromedial prefrontal cortices, which deal
with conscious thoughts, reasoning, and decision making).Those
responses create biochemical and electrical reactions in the body
that alter its physical state – technically speaking, emotions are
neurological reactions to an emotional stimulus
 The amygdala plays a key role in emotional arousal. It regulates
the release of neurotransmitters that are important for memory
consolidation, which is why emotional memories are usually
perceived stronger and long-lasting.

4. Feelings and
Emotions
 Feelings and Emotions are different
 Feelings originate in the neocortical regions of the brain, feelings
are sparked by emotions and colored by personal experiences,
beliefs, memories, and thoughts linked to that particular emotion.
Strictly speaking, a feeling is the side product of your brain
perceiving an emotion and assigning a certain meaning to it.

5. No. ofTheories
on Emotion
 Common senseTheory
 James LangeTheory
 Canon BardTheory
 Facial FeedbackTheory
 Schachter – SingerTheory (Two FactorTheory) (High way and Low
way)
 ZajoncTheories
 Lazarus cognitive mediation theory
These theories explore the relation between physiological arousal,
expressive behaviours (triggered by ANS) and conscious experience
in relation to emotion

6. Definition
 Arousal an increase in reactivity or wakefulness that primes us for
some kind of action
 ANSAutonoumic nervous system causes the physiological
changes in case of emotion

7. Some notes
 Brain processes sensory input by two different routes, top down or
bottom up approaches, neuroscientists can chart these two
pathways in action
 HighWay sensory input travels from thalmus to cortex where we
can recognize the feeling cognizantly then it moves into the limbic
system and we get the emotion
 Low Road sensory input moves straight to the amygdala from
there to the limbic system and it triggers the physiologicalANS
bypassing the cognition
 Note High road cortex route allows thinking about feeling while
Quick low road shortcut allows instant emotional reaction

8. Some notes
 Sympathetic division arouses you in a crisis
 Parasympathetic division calms down after the crisis
 Under brain scan positive emotions show up in the left frontal lobe
negative emotions show up in the right front frontal lobe for
anyone who’s afraid emotions show up in the amygdala
 Emotions provide energy and motivation that helps us meet our
goals
 Hormone epinephrine ----Adreniline