Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025

The Use of Traditional Fear Tests to Evaluate Different Emotional Circuits in Cattle
Published on: April 22, 2020
The emotional life of animals
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Abstract:
How can emotional reactions be measured in creatures that cannot verbally describe their feelings, such as animals? Many answers have been given to this question in the history of psychology and neuroscience, and Paul and Mendl offer a thoughtful review and analysis in the theory section of this issue. In my commentary, the merits of various definitions of emotion based on different criteria are compared. These definitions use measures ranging from verbal reports to stimulus-elicited affective reactions, instrumental working for rewards or avoidance of punishments, and triangulation approaches.
Related Concept Videos
Physiology of Emotion
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
What is Behavior?
Role of Emotions in Social Life
Emotional Expression
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
Communication
Cognitive Theories: Lazarus Mediational Theory of Emotion
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that...

