Neuroscience Solves Mystery of Emotions

Researchers in the field of neuroscience have thought long and hard about the mystery of how our brains process emotions, but it took a team of researchers at Cornell University to finally solve the puzzle. It turns out the answer lies in viewing finely grained patterns of brain activity as a neural code that records people’s subjective feelings.

If two people enjoy similar activities, then it is because they have similar patterns of brain activity, explained neuroscientist Adam Anderson, an associate professor of human development at Cornell and the lead author of the recently published study on the subject. He noted that his findings refute scientists’ long-held belief that the brain represents emotions simply by activating specialized regions for either positive or negative responses.

Instead of this region-based approach, Anderson stated that the brain creates a unique code for the entire spectrum of emotions that can be read like a gauge. If the arrow on the hypothetical gauge leans one way, it indicates pleasant feelings. If it leans the other way, then the individual is going through a negative experience. Continue reading.

Originally posted on Liberty Voice.