The diverse neurogeography of emotional experience: Form follows function

The experience of emotion underlies emotional expression and consequent action. Although several theoretical models of emotion have suggested that emotional expression is reciprocally involved with sensory inputs and behavioural responses to environmental stimuli, these discussions have largely focused upon fear and its survival value to the organism. By describing research studies across a wide range of emotions and the specific brain regions that are associated with those emotions, this review raises the hypothesis that the “form” of emotional experience neurogeography has followed the “function” associated with developing complex emotional and behavioural responses to challenging environmental stimuli. This separation of emotions within the brain thus confers a survival advantage for the organism in terms of reproduction, safety, and development of more effective problem-solving strategies.

Research highlights▶ Emotional experience is dispersed across brain regions (tabulated). ▶ This dispersal allows simultaneous experience of different emotions. ▶ Resultant behavioural plasticity may provide an evolutionary advantage.