Conscious experience and emotion: an attention-based account

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Philosophy of Mind

Background:

• Consciousness and emotions are complex phenomena.
• Existing theories struggle to fully explain their interplay.
• The Attentional Modulation of Energy (AME) theory offers a novel framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms of emotion generation and function.
• To integrate emotion within the AME theory of consciousness.
• To explain how emotions contribute to the sense of self.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical framework development based on the AME theory.
• Analysis of the interplay between core affect, cognitive appraisal, and physiological responses.
• Examination of attentional shifts and their impact on self-representation.

Main Results:

• Emotions arise from affective responses that redirect attention to the self.
• This attentional shift modulates the energy level of the organ of attention (aOA) related to self.
• Deviations from a self-related set-point generate conscious emotional experiences.

Conclusions:

• Emotions are integral to consciousness, modulated by attentional energy.
• They serve as vital signals for internal equilibrium and self-integrity.
• Emotions dynamically shape and reconstruct the individual's sense of self.