The Feeling Brain : The Biology And Psychology Of Emotions Essay

James C. Petersen sets out on a mission to aim, teach, improve listening, and talking skills. This improves relationships with others, both professionally and personally. Similar to other communication books he begins with a brief overview of communication and what to expect. The book is based on five section explores communication options. His book is based off of the Flat-Brain Theory of Emotions. Petersen (2007) he suggests that individuals become confused between the difference of a feeling and a thought and their relation. Different body parts and areas suggest various thoughts and feelings that affect each other. The Flat-Brain Theory, which purports a triadic formula of self that includes the stomach, heart, and head (Petersen 2007, p. 11). This leads to the Flat-Brain Syndrome which is detrimental to our communication with self and others.

Charles Darwin was the first scientist to ever study animals in a systematic way (Bekoff “The Emotional Lives” 6). In his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, Darwin discussed the

Identify which theory of emotion you think is the most valid. What makes this theory more valid to you than the others? Identify which theory of emotion you think is least valid. What makes this theory less valid? Your response should be at least 300 hundred words. The four major theories of emotion: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard Facial-feedback and Schechter’s two-factor; emphasize different sequences or aspects of the three elements of emotion cognitions, arousal and expression. The Cannon-Bard theory is most valid in my opinion, the theory holds that all emotions are physiologically similar and arousal, cognitions, and expression occur simultaneously. Arousal is not necessary in this theory. Both Cannon and Bard propose the Thalamus gland in the brain sends signals to the cerebral cortex and the ANS; in return the messages to the cortex produce the cognitive experience of emotion. In contrast, the Facial-feedback theory is the main culprit of our emotions, I do not agree with this theory; I believe facial expressions are a result of what we are feeling inside within our emotions. The face is what we can associate to a specific feeling or emotion. That is how we can tell when someone is feeling sad, or is afraid. I believe each theory holds a bit of truth, but to which one is completely right I s not possible. They are theories and they can be tested and tried and the most positive and negative reports concluded, but they can never be proven. Out of these four theories,

William James believes that our emotions are caused by bodily reactions in which then promotes the mental feeling of the emotion. For example, James says that we feel sad because we cry, rather than we crying because we feel said (65). Too, James states that we are not born to be afraid, sad or anything, but as life progresses, humans and animals eventually discover these feelings toward a particular situation or object (68). It also occurs that even if a person does not express their emotion externally, their body tends to act in a way regardless of how the person expresses their emotions externally. An example of this is what James says when an individual is depressed, “the flexors tend to prevail” (69). Of course, In William James’ time,

These chapters Dr. Goldman talks about the interrelation of the cortex and the limbic system. The cortex is considered a part of the brain that controls rationality while the limbic system is the part of brain where your emotions come from. He shows emotional intelligence like a moderation of primitive impulses by mind. He suggests that the emotional intelligence can be taught.

3. What is the evolutionary view of emotion as originally proposed by Darwin? What is the adaptive value of emotion? What evidence suggests

The complexity of human emotions has been an unsolvable conundrum that has plagued the minds of philosophers for hundreds of years. In fact, to this day, philosophers still feverishly debate the various components of emotions. Whether it is the origins of emotions or the effect on the human body that emotions have, actual facts and proven theories about emotions are impossible to one hundred percent be verified. One emotion that is particularly complex and powerful is the emotion of fear. For example, there are times when an individual is totally paralyzed and unable to move purely because of the fact that the individual

Emotions run the world: many buy the “perfect dress” to feel confident, others run for fun, and others sleep as their sadness increases. Thus, in a world where emotions lead, mankind struggles to reason. Dr. Mark G. Baxter, a neuroscientist at Harvard University, and Dr. Elisabeth A. Murray, a Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Mental Health, are perfect examples of why many professionals in the science and medical field should start to investigate the amygdala, an “almond-shaped group of nuclein” associated with emotion, due to it being one of the most important parts of the brain as it is what defines what people do in their everyday basis. Nature, one of the most respected journals in the scientific community, published Dr. Baxter and Dr. Murray’s “The Amygdala and Reward” on July 2002 Nature Publishing Group arguing through ethos and logical appeals that the amygdala processes reward in the brain as well a negative emotions. Both neuroscientists prove the importance of understanding the connections between reward and emotions by analyzing their experiments performed on moneys and other primates, and including facts and statistics from other scientists and doctors. This well crafted article conscientiously analyzes how the amygdala’s role in stimulus-reward learning might be just as important as its role in processing negative fear and conditioning by providing credibility, reliability, logic, and reason to the audience.

The limbic system was first recognized due to Franz Josef Gall (LeDoux, J., 1996). Franz Joseph Gall developed the idea of “phrenology” that focused on the study of the different variations of bumps on the human skull to be related to differences in behavioral and emotional functioning. The limbic system’s main function in the brain is to control emotional behaviors and certain forms of memories that are infused with emotion (amygdala). The amygdala is a part of the brain that forms the tail end of the basal ganglia within the rostral temporal lobe and is located near the hippocampus (Lambert, K.G. & Kinsley, C .H., 2005). The amygdala, as defined by the text, is an almond-shaped structure that functions as a part of the limbic system involved in regulation of emotion and sexual urges (Lambert, K.G. & Kinsley, C .H., 2005). In addition, the amygdala is comprised of a dozen or more sub regions that are not all involved in fear conditioning (LeDoux, J., 1996).

The adult brain is crowned by the cerebral cortex which is a wrinkled mass of tissue which is ¼ centimeters thick. The cerebral cortex contains many systems one of which is the limbic system of the brain that drives a person’s appetite, moods and emotions. There is a well connected relationship between the “feeling” area of the brain and the “thinking” area of the brain. One area effects the other at all times. Amygdala is the first part to respond to emotions that triggers a series of split second reactions within the emotional cord. Waves of nerve impulses travel down the brain stem that sets of an instantaneous response throughout the body. Scientists have discovered that emotions like fear, happiness, grief and anger have a physical place in the brain. These emotions can be seen though brain scans or MRIs. The emotions have specific neural circuitry that has been developed thorough the lifespan of a human though experiences. The pre frontal cortex has already developed so adults tend to make rational decision unless affected by mental illness.

The two brain structures that are most frequently linked to human emotion are the amygdalas and the medial portions of the prefrontal lobes (Pinel, 2014). The amygdalas are only one section of the limbic system, it is the “almond-shaped nucleus in the anterior temporal lobe” (Pinel, 2014, pg. 70). The amygdalas have been researched more than any other section of the limbic system. The amygdalas are most commonly associated with the emotion of fear, however research is showing that the amygdalas actually play a role in “evaluating the emotional significance of situations”, whether the emotions being felt are positive or negative (Pinel, 2014, pg. 436). Even though research has shown the amygdalas play a larger role with emotions, brain imaging

People can then use this knowledge to guide their actions so that we don't upset or anger them. In the last decade, it has been nudged firmly to one side by evidence, that we are Homo empathicus - wired for empathy (Krznaric xii). Biologically, our emotions are processed by the amygdala, a part of the brain that is responsible for emotion. The amygdala is part of the limbic system in the brain. The limbic system is a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres. It is associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. It includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus (Dartmouth). Experiments have been done on monkeys where their amygdala was surgically lesioned. The result was a monkey, which was originally ill-tempered, that would remain calm no matter what you did to it (Teddy Brain). The amygdala thus links to the empathy people feel during their normal

Paul Ekman was a man of psychological influence that continues to reflect in the world of psychology today. His ideas of basic emotions, such as happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, anger, and disgust combined with contempt have not only been investigated by him, but also the psychologists following in his footsteps (Ekman 1992).

In the next paragraphs I will consider some theories, factors and evidence on cognitive controlling of emotion in terms of

For many people, they live their lives based on emotions. Emotions of happiness, love, success, and many more, could possibly be the most satisfying feelings. Except we commonly experience unpleasant emotions. There are emotions of anger, hatred, sadness, and disgrace. A very important question in the understanding of the human mind and highly related to cognitive science, is how do these emotions affect human cognition and the impact on our abilities to be rational? To tackle this question, we need to understand what emotions are, but not solely in the manner we are all familiar with, we need to understand them from a cognitive nature involving our physiology, psychology, and environment. Cognition, according to the Oxford definition