Neurobiology of Emotions

• The limbic system is located in the brain and includes the amygdala and the hippocampus. These two structures are believed to play a role in the formation of fear-based memories.
• The autonomic nervous system, together with the hypothalamus, regulates pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and arousal in response to emotional cues.
• The reticular activating system is believed to first arouse the cortex and then maintain its wakefulness so that sensory information and emotion can be interpreted more effectively.
• The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher brain processes such as sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning, and memory.
• The homeostasis of the body is maintained through equilibrium of the biological conditions, such as body temperature.
• Emotions can be explained in biological and neurological terms, and the limbic system, autonomic nervous system, and reticular activating system all interact to assist the body in experiencing and processing emotions.

Test your knowledge of the biological processes underlying emotions, including the limbic system, autonomic nervous system, reticular activating system, and cerebral cortex. Explore how these systems interact and contribute to emotional experiences.