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Emotional Networks in the Brain

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Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

Definition

Human evolution has resulted in efficient neural circuits supporting emotional behavior. These broad networks are founded on subcortical and cortical structures that are highly conserved across mammalian species. In the following chapter, a collection of brain regions that contribute to the execution of what are commonly thought to be emotional behaviors in psychological science are briefly catalogued.

Introduction

Human emotion can be described as a disposition to action. To attain resources and procreate while avoiding injury or predation, mammals have evolved distinct appetitive and defensive neural systems that foster reliable and efficient approach and avoidance behaviors. Both motivational systems involve elevated metabolic demands, the intensity of which forms an independent dimension of emotion. As a pleasant or unpleasant cue gains imminence (e.g., proximity in time or space), its emotional intensity increases. Thus, at its most basic level, human emotion can be...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience BioImaging Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Dean Sabatinelli

  2. University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    David W. Frank & Megan M. Filkowski

Authors
  1. Dean Sabatinelli
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  2. David W. Frank
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  3. Megan M. Filkowski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dean Sabatinelli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz, Smugowa 10/12, 91-433, Lodz, Poland

    Monika Wróbel

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Sabatinelli, D., Frank, D.W., Filkowski, M.M. (2017). Emotional Networks in the Brain. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_511-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_511-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

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