Emotions and the Right Side of the Brain


Book Description

This book focuses on asymmetries in brain structure and their role in emotional functions (such as amygdala in emotional comprehension, the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex in the integration between cognition and emotion and in the control of emotional reactions, and the anterior insula in the experience of emotions). The idea of hemispheric asymmetries in emotional comprehension and expression was first proposed about a century after the first studies showing that the left hemisphere is dominant for language, but it quickly became very popular. Initial investigations considered the right and left hemispheres as single functional units, but in the last few years several researchers have focused attention on asymmetries in brain structures playing a critical role in specific components of emotional functions. Furthermore, interesting data have been obtained by studying emotional and behavioural disorders of patients with asymmetrical forms of frontal or temporal variants of fronto-temporal degeneration. Elaborating on these subjects requires, on the one hand, a consolidated understanding of how models concerning the relationships between emotions and hemispheric asymmetries evolved in time and, on the other hand, a sound interdisciplinary knowledge of psychology (nature, components and hierarchical organization of emotions) and neuroscience (neuroanatomy). This volume – intended for neurologists, neuroscientists and psychologists – pursues an organic and consistent approach to provide an overview of these complex and fascinating issues.




The Human Locomotor System


Book Description

The textbook describes the complexity of the human dynamic behavior in space and its ability to produce coordinated, adaptive, dynamically stable movements under steady conditions while negotiating complex terrains and experiencing unexpected perturbations. Applying fundamental theories of biomechanics and physiology, the authors further consider the physical, perceptual, and motor aspects of the locomotor system towards the analysis of how humans can behave adaptively in space by virtue of their intelligent sensory-motor functions and to illuminate our understanding of how this complexity in behavior can provide insight into the neural control of locomotion of the musculoskeletal system. The text provides a foundation for describing the normal and abnormal human locomotor systems. The Human Locomotor System: Physiological and Technological Foundations is intended as a primary text for upper-undergraduate and graduate-level courses in neuroscience, gait analysis, kinesiology, physical therapy, sports science, and biomedical and rehabilitation engineering. It is also a valuable professional reference for scientists and engineers at medical and pharmaceutical companies involved in bioengineering research and development.




Mechanisms Underpinning the Link between Emotion, Physical Health and Longevity


Book Description

The 1990’s was designated as ‘the decade of the brain’ and now, common mental disorders are described as ‘brain disorders’. Yet intense research interest on the brain has largely side-lined the body as a passive observer, disconnecting mental from physical health and contributing to further societal stigma on the nature of psychiatric illness and mental distress. The biopsychosocial pathway to premature mortality or longevity is a complex one, involving a host of closely intertwined mechanisms and moderating factors, some of which are investigated in this special issue. All the articles published here provide new insights into the pathways linking emotion, physical health and longevity, highlighting the tight linkage between mind, brain and body.




Hemispheric Asymmetry


Book Description

Is "right-brain" thought essentially creative, and "left-brain" strictly logical? Joseph B. Hellige argues that this view is far too simplistic. Surveying extensive data in the field of cognitive science, he disentangles scientific facts from popular assumptions about the brain's two hemispheres. In Hemispheric Asymmetry, Hellige explains that the "right brain" and "left brain" are actually components of a much larger cognitive system encompassing cortical and subcortical structures, all of which interact to produce unity of thought and action. He further explores questions of whether hemispheric asymmetry is unique to humans, and how it might have evolved. This book is a valuable overview of hemispheric asymmetry and its evolutionary precedents.




Emotion Measurement


Book Description

Emotion Measurement, Second Edition highlights key elements of emotions that should be considered in the measurement of emotions in both academic and commercial environments. This edition begins with an updated review of basic studies of emotion, including the theory, physiology, and psychology of emotions, as these are the foundational studies which food scientists as well as product developers and marketing professionals need to be aware of. The second section highlights methods for studying emotions, and reviews the different approaches to emotion measurement: questionnaire self-report, behavioral, and physiological. This section explores the merits of intrinsic versus extrinsic measures of emotion. Some new measurement approaches have emerged since the first edition of this book. The book then presents practical applications, with chapters on emotion research in food and beverage, as well as in a range of products and clinical settings. The experience in testing product emotions has increased since the first edition when product emotion research was newer. Finally, Emotion Measurement, Second Edition provides coverage of cross-cultural research on emotions. This is critical because much of the newer commercial research is aimed at markets around the world, requiring methods that work in many cultures. And the universality of emotions has been a topic of research for decades. Taking both an academic and applied approach, Emotion Measurement, Second Edition will be an invaluable reference for those conducting basic academic research on emotions and for sensory and consumer scientists, and the product developers and marketing professionals they work alongside. Reviews both the academic and the applied strands of emotion measurement research Focuses on cross-cultural studies of emotions, which is currently lacking from most of the literature in the field Highlights methods for studying emotions in both basic and applied studies




The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience


Book Description

Neuroscientific research on emotion has developed dramatically over the past decade. The cognitive neuroscience of human emotion, which has emerged as the new and thriving area of 'affective neuroscience', is rapidly rendering existing overviews of the field obsolete. This handbook provides a comprehensive, up-to-date and authoritative survey of knowledge and topics investigated in this cutting-edge field. It covers a range of topics, from face and voice perception to pain and music, as well as social behaviors and decision making. The book considers and interrogates multiple research methods, among them brain imaging and physiology measurements, as well as methods used to evaluate behavior and genetics. Editors Jorge Armony and Patrik Vuilleumier have enlisted well-known and active researchers from more than twenty institutions across three continents, bringing geographic as well as methodological breadth to the collection. This timely volume will become a key reference work for researchers and students in the growing field of neuroscience.







The Neuropsychology of Emotion


Book Description

This comprehensive review of the neuropsychology of emotion and the underlying neural mechanisms, is divided into four sections: background and general techniques, theoretical perspectives, emotional disorders, and clinical implications.




Clinical Neuropsychology of Emotion


Book Description

Written in an engaging, accessible style, this book synthesizes the growing body of knowledge on the neuropsychology of emotion and identifies practical clinical implications. The author unravels the processes that comprise a single emotional event, from the initial trigger through physiological and psychological responses. She also examines how patterns of emotional responses come together to motivate complex behavioral choices. Grounded in theory and research, the book discusses relevant syndromes and populations, reviews available assessment instruments, and describes how deficits in emotional processing affect cognition, daily functioning, and mental health.