Theories of Emotion

• Emotional responses integrate bottom-up processing, where lower nervous system parts alert the cerebral cortex, and top-down processing, where cortical executive functions adjust lower structure activity.
• The autonomic system, governed by the hypothalamus, manages general arousal and negative emotions.
• The sympathetic division initiates the fight-or-flight response.
• Hypothalamus activity is directly related to fear of predation.
• The amygdala identifies emotional triggers, activates responses through circuits connected to the hypothalamus, frontal lobes, cingulate cortex, and insula.
• Amygdala damage impairs fear response and emotion identification, leading to less intense emotions.
• The amygdala actively involved in interpreting social interactions
• The insula, located where the frontal and temporal lobes meet, is key for subjective feelings.
• The back of the insula is linked to physical sensations like heart rate and pain, while the front is associated with overall feelings.
• The cingulate cortex, connected with frontal brain areas and subcortical structures, is involved in consciously assessing threats, catastrophizing, and worry.
• Basal ganglia coordinates voluntary movements and responses of disgust to emotional stimuli.
• The nucleus accumbens is central to pleasure and reward, playing a role in addiction.
• Frontal lobe damage diminishes emotional intensity, leading to impulsive and risky behaviors.
• Different emotions trigger unique activity patterns, and a single brain region can be involved in multiple emotions.

Explore the intricate interplay between bottom-up and top-down processing in emotional responses. Learn about the autonomic system's role in general arousal and the amygdala's pivotal function in identifying emotional triggers and responses. Understand how the insula contributes to subjective feelings.