The Source of Our Emotions
How do we feel according to neuroscience?
We live immersed in a world of stimuli, of sensations.
We constantly perceive physical stimuli: the taste of food, the heat of fire, the cold as the sun goes down, or the glow of light reflected on a white canvas.
However, there are other stimuli, which we feel more intensely, more deeply than the mentioned above. Some examples of these stimuli are the immense fear we feel when we see an unknown insect, anger when life does not go as expected, happiness when we meet old friends after a while, sadness at leaving behind the summer and our summer lovers, the pleasure of a good coffee.
All these sensations are physical, we can perceive them in the hands, the stomach, the mouth, but those of the second type are special. These “special” sensations is what in neuroscience are described as “emotions”.
What are the “emotions” we feel scientifically?
Emotions are the result of the evolution of the Nervous System. Thus, they are something biological. Therefore, loving, being happy or sad, being angry, feeling fear, being surprised or feeling disgusted, are purely biological processes.
Loving, being happy or sad, being angry, feeling…
