Physiological feelings

Area of Science:

• Affective Neuroscience
• Psychophysiology
• Embodied Cognition

Background:

• The James-Lange theory proposed that physiological responses to stimuli cause subjective emotion.
• Contemporary models integrate central nervous system (CNS) processing with peripheral signals for emotion generation.
• The concept of 'feelings' encompasses perceptions of bodily changes, whether real or simulated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the multifaceted role of peripheral physiology in emotional experience.
• To synthesize historical and modern perspectives on emotion and bodily states.
• To explore the neural and developmental underpinnings of physiological feelings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review integrating historical theories, neuroanatomy, physiology, and developmental psychology.
• Analysis of interoception as the brain's processing of somatic signals.
• Examination of diverse physiological systems contributing to emotional feelings.

Main Results:

• Emotion is viewed as an interactive network of "bottom-up" (peripheral) and "top-down" (central) signaling.
• Interoception, the brain's representation of bodily states, is crucial for subjective feelings.
• Physiological feelings originate from various systems, including the PNS, endocrine, immune, and gastrointestinal tracts.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral physiological signals are integral to the subjective experience of emotion.
• Understanding interoception provides insight into the generation of feelings.
• A comprehensive view requires integrating physiological, neural, developmental, and linguistic perspectives on emotion.