New Research Explores How Emotions Influence Brain Activity
Researchers from Stanford University, led by Dr. Karl Deisseroth, have unveiled intriguing insights into how emotions linger in the brain, affecting behavior and perception. In a study published in Science, the team demonstrates that experiences resonated in the brain can persist, much like a sustained musical note. This phenomenon often leads to emotional generalization—how a positive or negative experience can change one’s overall state of mind during subsequent events.
To investigate this process, the researchers used an air puff directed at participants’ corneas. They noted two distinct phases of brain activity following this stimulus: an immediate reflexive response and a delayed emotional processing phase. Interestingly, they found that repeated exposure enhanced this sustained brain response, reflecting increased annoyance in humans and reduced reward-seeking behavior in mice.
To further evaluate these findings, the team administered ketamine, a common anesthetic, which disrupted the second phase of the brain activity. Participants reported a diminished emotional response to the air puff, suggesting a direct link between sustained brain activity and emotional experiences.
While these findings are groundbreaking, some experts, like Lisa Feldman Barrett, argue that the sustained signals might not only pertain to emotions but could also involve other cognitive states. This ongoing discourse highlights the need for clearer definitions in the study of emotions to better understand their complex role in human behavior.
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