Abstract
Over the last few decades, psychological theories on the relation between cognition and emotion have been shaped by evidence from neuroscience techniques. In particular, the debate of whether or not emotion occurs in the absence of cognitive awareness has been influenced by studies of a subcortical brain structure, the amygdala, that is more or less specialized for emotional processing. Neuroscience studies with nonhuman animals, while suggestive, do not directly address the relationship between emotion, the amygdala, and cognitive awareness. The amygdala is necessary for the acquisition and physiological expression of fear conditioning, which does not require awareness. The amygdala influences conscious recollection of events that are emotional and important. It can also modulate perception and attention by increasing the likelihood that emotional information in the environment will break through to cognitive awareness.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The New Unconscious |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780199847488 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780195307696 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 22 2012 |
Keywords
- Amygdala
- Attention
- Cognition
- Cognitive awareness
- Conscious recollection
- Emotion
- Fear conditioning
- Neuroscience
- Nonhuman animals
- Perception
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology