A Network Model of the Emotional Brain

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Traditional views localize emotion to discrete cortical and subcortical brain areas.
• This perspective limits understanding of emotion's complex and widespread influence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a new framework for understanding emotion based on large-scale brain network interactions.
• To introduce the concept of 'functionally integrated systems' for emotion organization.
• To illustrate how these systems integrate various brain regions.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of anatomical and functional principles of brain organization.
• Description of the cortex-amygdala integrated system and its network connections.
• Highlighting the role of interconnected systems including the striatum, septum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and thalamus.

Main Results:

• Emotion is organized by large-scale, functionally integrated cortical-subcortical systems spanning the neuroaxis.
• The cortex-amygdala system serves as a key anchor, interacting with numerous other brain regions.
• The thalamus plays a crucial role in these integrated emotional systems.

Conclusions:

• Emotion's pervasive impact is explained by its grounding in widespread neural network interactions.
• This network model clarifies how emotion is intrinsically linked with perception, cognition, motivation, and action.
• A shift from regional to network-based understanding is essential for advancing emotion research.