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Related Concept Videos

Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
10:33

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis

Published on: June 20, 2012

A parametric relief signal in human ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.

Juri Fujiwara1, Philippe N Tobler, Masato Taira

  • 1Division of Systems Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Japan.

Neuroimage
|November 11, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Relief, a positive emotion, is linked to better-than-expected outcomes. Brain imaging reveals anterior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activity correlates with relief, not regret, highlighting its role in higher-order reward processing.

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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation
14:04

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation

Published on: August 26, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
10:33

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis

Published on: June 20, 2012

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation
14:04

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation

Published on: August 26, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Decision Science

Background:

  • Relief is a common human emotion experienced when outcomes exceed expectations.
  • Understanding the neural basis of emotions like relief is crucial for cognitive science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the experience of relief.
  • To differentiate the brain activity associated with relief from that associated with regret.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
  • A choice task was designed where participants sequentially experienced outcomes of chosen and unchosen options.
  • Relief and regret were parametrically modulated by comparing chosen versus unchosen outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Anterior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (aVLPFC) showed increased activation correlating with the degree of relief.
  • aVLPFC activation was not associated with regret (outcomes worse than unchosen options).
  • Activation in aVLPFC was independent of primary gains or losses, specifically linked to the relief signal.

Conclusions:

  • The anterior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex plays a key role in encoding relief.
  • This region appears to process a higher-order reward signal central to emotional theories.
  • Findings suggest a distinct neural basis for relief, separate from regret and primary outcome value.