Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: a review

Area of Science:

• Psychophysiology
• Affective Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is central to emotion theories.
• Debate exists on the specificity of ANS responses during emotional states, ranging from general arousal to distinct patterns.
• Understanding ANS reactivity in emotion is crucial for affective science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review experimental investigations on the relationship between emotional states and peripheral physiological responding.
• To assess the degree of autonomic nervous system (ANS) response specificity across different emotions.
• To discuss the impact of terminology and measurement choices on assessing ANS reactivity.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 134 publications.
• Analysis of experimental studies on emotional effects on peripheral physiological responses in healthy individuals.
• Focus on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests considerable specificity in ANS responses when considering distinct subtypes of emotions.
• The review identified varying predictions regarding autonomic response patterns for specific emotions.
• The importance of precise affective state terminology and appropriate physiological measures was highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity exhibits notable specificity in emotional responses, particularly at the level of emotion subtypes.
• Accurate assessment of ANS reactivity in emotion requires careful consideration of affective state definitions and physiological measurement techniques.
• Future research should prioritize clear terminology and robust methodologies to advance understanding of the psychophysiology of emotion.