Abstract
This chapter discusses how the brain consciously feels emotions. It argues that feelings are, in most cases, emotionally coloured cognitions, and that emotional consciousness is just a particular instance of cognitive awareness rather than a separate form of awareness mediated by a distinct neural system. It defines emotions, justify a focus on fear, explains that a fearful feeling is an emotionally coloured cognition, argues that working memory provides a useful framework for accounting for the emotional colouration of cognition, and considers the relation of language to consciousness and feelings.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Frontiers of Consciousness |
Subtitle of host publication | Chichele Lectures |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780191696596 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780199233151 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 22 2012 |
Keywords
- Coloured cognitions
- Emotional colouration
- Emotional consciousness
- Emotions
- Fear
- Feelings
- Language
- Memory
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology