Neural mechanisms of human emotion and autonomic nervous functions

Abstract

Recent advances in cognitive neuroscientific studies of emotion allow us to understand more closely about the underlying mechanisms of human emotion. Current essential research questions for understanding emotion are as follows: 1) what are the functions of the brain areas or networks involved in emotional processing, 2) how the autonomic bodily responses affect emotion perception or production, and 3) what is the significance of clinical studies for the patients with emotional disorders and autonomic nervous disorders. In this article, I first reconsidered some concepts around emotion, reviewed recent development of the relevant studies mainly focusing on the interoception and the functions of insular cortex, and finally highlighted on the importance of understanding “mind-brain-body” interactions.