Neuromodulatory Basis of Emotion

Fellous, Jean-Marc

doi:10.1177/107385849900500514

Cited by 55 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Earlier, we said that reconciling the cognitive architectures of Ortony et al and Sloman led us to consider four architectural levels. Fellous [54] has also produced a four-level hierarchy, but this time on the basis of a review of data on hypothalamus, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex, and the suggestion that the neural basis for emotion involves both computations in such structures and their current state of neuromodulation (see Figure 3, and [55,56]). Others have suggested that neuromodulation might be a key to metalearning [57].…”

Section: Neuromodulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotions: from brain to robot

Arbib

Fellous

2004

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

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214

114

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Some robots have been given emotional expressions in an attempt to improve human-computer interaction. In this article we analyze what it would mean for a robot to have emotion, distinguishing emotional expression for communication from emotion as a mechanism for the organization of behavior. Research on the neurobiology of emotion yields a deepening understanding of interacting brain structures and neural mechanisms rooted in neuromodulation that underlie emotions in humans and other animals. However, the chemical basis of animal function differs greatly from the mechanics and computations of current machines. We therefore abstract from biology a functional characterization of emotion that does not depend on physical substrate or evolutionary history, and is broad enough to encompass the possible emotions of robots.Interest in the creation of robots with emotions is fourfold. First, current technology already shows the value of providing robots with 'emotional' expressions (e.g. computer tutors) and bodily postures (e.g. robot pets) to facilitate human-computer interaction. Second, this raises the question of the possible value (or inevitability) of future robots not only simulating emotional expression but actually 'having emotions'. Third, this in turn requires us to re-examine the neurobiology of emotion to generalize concepts first developed for humans and then extended to animals so that the question of robot emotions becomes meaningful. And fourth, this suggests in turn that building 'emotional robots' could also provide a novel test-bed for theories of biological emotion.This article samples the state of the art on current robot technology, and examines recent work on the neurobiology of emotions, to ground our suggestions for a scientific framework in which to approach robot 'emotions'. The question of 'emotional robots' being used to test theories of biological emotion is of great interest, but beyond the scope of this article. Different kinds of emotionsThere is a wide spectrum of feelings, from the 'motivation' afforded by drives such as the search for food afforded by hunger [1] to 'emotions' in which, at least in humans, cognitive awareness might be linked to feeling the 'heat' of love, sorrow or anger, and so on. But as we have no criterion for saying that a robot has 'feelings', we will seek here to understand emotions in their functional context, noting that not all emotions need be like human emotions. We analyze emotion in two main senses:(1) Emotional expression for communication and social coordination.(2) Emotion for organization of behavior (action selection, attention and learning).The first concerns 'external' aspect of emotions; the second 'internal' aspects. In animals, these aspects have co-evolved. How might they enter robot design? Both robots and animals need to survive and perform efficiently within their 'ecological niche' and, in each case, patterns of coordination will greatly influence the suite of relevant emotions (if such are indeed needed) and the means whereby they are co...

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Section: Neuromodulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotions: from brain to robot

Arbib

Fellous

2004

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Self Cite

214

114

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“…This view is also largely compatible with Arbib and Fellous' [2] proposal that emotion is closely connected to the operation of neuromodulators [27], i.e., ''endogenous substances … released by a few specialized brain nuclei that have somewhat diffuse projections throughout the brain and receive inputs from brain areas that are involved at all levels of behavior from reflexes to cognition,'' as illustrated in Fig. 5 Fig.…”

Section: Emotion In Embodied Cognitive Architecturesmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…3 Interactions between amygdala, cortical, and subcortical areas in the mammalian brain (mPFC/dlPFC: medial/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Adapted from Arbib and Fellous [2], based on LeDoux [38] [27] working memory systems essential for linking emotion, cognition and consciousness,'' (2) serotonin, which has been implicated in, among other functions, behavioral state regulation and arousal, mood, motor pattern generation, learning and plasticity, and (3) opioids, which are ''found particularly within regions involved in emotional regulation, responses to pain and stress, endocrine regulation and food intake'' [2, p. 558]. …”

Section: Emotion In Embodied Cognitive Architecturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Role of Emotion in Embodied Cognitive Architectures: From Organisms to Robots

Ziemke

Lowe

2009

Cogn Comput

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The computational modeling of emotion has been an area of growing interest in cognitive robotics research in recent years, but also a source of contention regarding how to conceive of emotion and how to model it. In this paper, emotion is characterized as (a) closely connected to embodied cognition, (b) grounded in homeostatic bodily regulation, and (c) a powerful organizational principle-affective modulation of behavioral and cognitive mechanisms-that is 'useful' in both biological brains and robotic cognitive architectures. We elaborate how emotion theories and models centered on core neurological structures in the mammalian brain, and inspired by embodied, dynamical, and enactive approaches in cognitive science, may impact on computational and robotic modeling. In light of the theoretical discussion, work in progress on the development of an embodied cognitive-affective architecture for robots is presented, incorporating aspects of the theories discussed.

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“…The neurobiological foundations of emotions are neuromodulators like dopamine, serotonin and the ophids [25]. These neuromodulators are emitted by specialized neurons originating in quite localized subcortical structures, like the raphe nucleus and the substantia nigra, ascending to cortical areas, in particular to the prefrontal cortex, as well as to sub-cortical areas like the amygdala and the hippocampus, to mention a few exemplary target areas.…”

Section: Neurobiology Of Emotional and Diffusive Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition and Emotion: Perspectives of a Closing Gap

Gros

2010

Cogn Comput

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The primary tasks of a cognitive system are to survive and to maximize a life-long utility function, like the number of offsprings. A direct computational maximization of life-long utility is however not possible in complex environments, especially in the context, of real-world time constraints. The central role of emotions is to serve as an intermediate layer in the space of policies available to agents and animals, leading to a large dimensional reduction of complexity. We review our current understanding of the functional role of emotions, stressing the role of the neuromodulators mediating emotions for the diffusive homeostatic control system of the brain. We discuss a recent proposal, that emotional diffusive control is characterized, in contrast to neutral diffusive control, by interaction effects, viz by interferences between emotional arousal and reward signaling. Several proposals for the realization of synthetic emotions are discussed in this context, together with key open issues regarding the interplay between emotional motivational drives and diffusive control.

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Neuromodulatory Basis of Emotion

Cited by 55 publications

References 87 publications

Emotions: from brain to robot

Emotions: from brain to robot

On the Role of Emotion in Embodied Cognitive Architectures: From Organisms to Robots

Cognition and Emotion: Perspectives of a Closing Gap

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