Does emotion emerge in physiological responses?

Abstract

The present review introduced the current progress in understanding the relationship between emotion and physiological research, particularly through studies of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A review of the existing literature indicates that while ANS research has demonstrated an association between physiological responses and emotional arousal, it has not yet fully explored the physiological associations with basic emotions including happiness, sadness, and anger. In contrast, fMRI studies have shown that neural activity in the distributed whole brain is related to basic emotions, rather than the circumplex model of emotion, which consists of valence and arousal dimensions. Additionally, fMRI research has also revealed that various emotional categories correspond with distinct patterns of neural activity. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the connection between emotions and physiological systems, it is crucial that future research adopts a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates various indicators and methodologies.