Important notes for Emotion and Cognition
Week 1
Emotions Phenomenal experience, physiological
pattern and verbal + nonverbal expression
Ekman’s 6 basic expressions Happy, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise and
anger.
Emotion properties (1) Relatively distinct, but mixed-
emotions possible
(2) Subtle differences across subjects
(3) Relatively universal across cultures
but different expressions.
(4) Evolutionary purpose
(5) Emotions come in pairs
Why do we have emotions Adaptive functions (Darwin), bodily
responses (James), quick decisions
(Damasio and Le Doux), appraisal (Arnold)
and Social constructs (Averill).
Darwinian Principle of serviceable associated habits,
antithesis and expressive habits through
the nervous system.
Measure emotions Questionnaires, introspection, emotional
Stroop task and physiology
James-Lange Emotions are the result of physiological
changes.
So, event physiological pattern
phenomenal experience and
verbal/nonverbal expression
Testing James-Lange Theory (1) Change in body alters your emotions
(2) Cognitive inhibitions of your body
weakens emotions.
(3) Substance-induced bodily changes
alter emotions and related neural
activity.
Cannon’s criticism - Visceral changes too slow to be
source of emotion.
- Separating body from CNS doesn’t
alter emotional behaviour in
animals.
- Artificial induction of visceral
changes typical for emotions don’t
produce them.
- Relation bodily states – emotional
states not 1:1
Schachter’s two-factor theory Emotions result from physiological arousal
and cognitive appraisal.
, So, perception of event cognition/
context appraisal and arousal/physiological
pattern phenomenal
experience/emotion.
Emotion dimensions Arousal, valence, goals, active/passive and
probability of the goal.
Damasio’s somatic marker hypothesis Emotional experiences are caused by the
perception of changes in physical processes.
Triune brain theory Striatal region (movement), neocortex
(thoughts) and limbic (feelings) thalamus
Murphy’s meta-analysis Amydala (anxiety), insula (disgust), LOFC
(anger), ACC and dmPFC (happiness and
sadness).
Appraisal and theories Appraisal involves whether it is beneficial,
present and approach/avoidance.
- Lazarus: cognitive-motivational
relational theory says every emotion
links to a core relational theme.
Appraisal emotion
physiological pattern.
- Oatley & Johnson-Laird: goal
priority and adjust schedule when
unexpected event occurs.
Affective neuroscience perspectives 1) Natural-kind view: role that
emotions play in influencing out
behaviour and cognitions.
2) Conceptual construction view:
emotions are social constructions
that emerge from a dynamic brain
organisation.
Issues about understanding emotions 1. Disagreements as to how it is
defined.
2. Different levels of analyses and
methodologies.
3. Different assumptions about the
nature of emotions.
Experiments (Nummenmaa et al) (1) Reported bodily sensations
associated with six basic and seven
non basic emotions.
(2 & 3) Emotions induced through
guided mental imagery and viewing
movies.
(4) Showing pictures of 6 facial
expressions to participants and
colour the BSM.
(5) Presented with BSMs and asked to
Week 1
Emotions Phenomenal experience, physiological
pattern and verbal + nonverbal expression
Ekman’s 6 basic expressions Happy, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise and
anger.
Emotion properties (1) Relatively distinct, but mixed-
emotions possible
(2) Subtle differences across subjects
(3) Relatively universal across cultures
but different expressions.
(4) Evolutionary purpose
(5) Emotions come in pairs
Why do we have emotions Adaptive functions (Darwin), bodily
responses (James), quick decisions
(Damasio and Le Doux), appraisal (Arnold)
and Social constructs (Averill).
Darwinian Principle of serviceable associated habits,
antithesis and expressive habits through
the nervous system.
Measure emotions Questionnaires, introspection, emotional
Stroop task and physiology
James-Lange Emotions are the result of physiological
changes.
So, event physiological pattern
phenomenal experience and
verbal/nonverbal expression
Testing James-Lange Theory (1) Change in body alters your emotions
(2) Cognitive inhibitions of your body
weakens emotions.
(3) Substance-induced bodily changes
alter emotions and related neural
activity.
Cannon’s criticism - Visceral changes too slow to be
source of emotion.
- Separating body from CNS doesn’t
alter emotional behaviour in
animals.
- Artificial induction of visceral
changes typical for emotions don’t
produce them.
- Relation bodily states – emotional
states not 1:1
Schachter’s two-factor theory Emotions result from physiological arousal
and cognitive appraisal.
, So, perception of event cognition/
context appraisal and arousal/physiological
pattern phenomenal
experience/emotion.
Emotion dimensions Arousal, valence, goals, active/passive and
probability of the goal.
Damasio’s somatic marker hypothesis Emotional experiences are caused by the
perception of changes in physical processes.
Triune brain theory Striatal region (movement), neocortex
(thoughts) and limbic (feelings) thalamus
Murphy’s meta-analysis Amydala (anxiety), insula (disgust), LOFC
(anger), ACC and dmPFC (happiness and
sadness).
Appraisal and theories Appraisal involves whether it is beneficial,
present and approach/avoidance.
- Lazarus: cognitive-motivational
relational theory says every emotion
links to a core relational theme.
Appraisal emotion
physiological pattern.
- Oatley & Johnson-Laird: goal
priority and adjust schedule when
unexpected event occurs.
Affective neuroscience perspectives 1) Natural-kind view: role that
emotions play in influencing out
behaviour and cognitions.
2) Conceptual construction view:
emotions are social constructions
that emerge from a dynamic brain
organisation.
Issues about understanding emotions 1. Disagreements as to how it is
defined.
2. Different levels of analyses and
methodologies.
3. Different assumptions about the
nature of emotions.
Experiments (Nummenmaa et al) (1) Reported bodily sensations
associated with six basic and seven
non basic emotions.
(2 & 3) Emotions induced through
guided mental imagery and viewing
movies.
(4) Showing pictures of 6 facial
expressions to participants and
colour the BSM.
(5) Presented with BSMs and asked to
