The neurobiology of emotion–cognition interactions: fundamental questions and strategies for future research

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of powerful new tools for assaying the brain and a remarkable acceleration of research focused on the interplay of emotion and cognition. This work has begun to yield new insights into fundamental questions about the nature of the mind and important clues about the origins of mental illness. In particular, this research demonstrates that stress, anxiety, and other kinds of emotion can profoundly influence key elements of cognition, including selective attention, working memory, and cognitive control. Often, this influence persists beyond the duration of transient emotional challenges, partially reflecting the slower molecular dynamics of catecholamine and hormonal neurochemistry. In turn, circuits involved in attention, executive control, and working memory contribute to the regulation of emotion. The distinction between the ‘emotional’ and the ‘cognitive’ brain is fuzzy and context-dependent. Indeed, there is compelling evidence that brain territories and psychological processes commonly associated with cognition, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and working memory, play a central role in emotion. Furthermore, putatively emotional and cognitive regions influence one another via a complex web of connections in ways that jointly contribute to adaptive and maladaptive behavior. This work demonstrates that emotion and cognition are deeply interwoven in the fabric of the brain, suggesting that widely held beliefs about the key constituents of ‘the emotional brain’ and ‘the cognitive brain’ are fundamentally flawed. We conclude by outlining several strategies for enhancing future research. Developing a deeper understanding of the emotional-cognitive brain is important, not just for understanding the mind but also for elucidating the root causes of its disorders.

Beyond emotions: A meta-analysis of neural response within face processing system in social anxiety

“…The inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) is a region that has been linked to regulation and modulation of emotions both in social 54 and non-social contexts 55 and which mediates aspects of empathy. 56 A similar role has been postulated for the subgenual anterior cingulate.…”

Chronological Prospective of Behavioral Decision Making: A Three Realm Model for Cognitive Processing and Behavior

“…Acquisition of information by focused attention or through overt orienting towards an event or stimuli is decided by the brain based on its relevance for certain reward or punishment. As eloquently discussed by Okon-Singer [12], anxiety and inhibitive behaviour often emerges early in development due to early experience based influence on childhood attentional biases to threat [39,40]. Kessel et al [41] provide crucial evidence in this regard showing that temperamentally inhibited children allocate more attention to aversive cues which is reduced in children who are encouraged and appreciated for positive behaviour.…”

“…The information thus gained is then encoded through neural networks either in the reward realm or the punishment realm for future computation and cognitive control. As suggested by Okon-Singer et al [12] cognitive control is engaged when a) there is uncertainty about the optimal course of action, b) potential actions are associated with the possibility of error or punishment, or c) there is competition between alternative courses of action (e.g., flee/ freeze, go/no-go). Acquired curiosity is more likely to be governed by cognitive control processes in threatening environments in order to minimize risk, promote probabilistic learning, and avoid potentially catastrophic actions [13,14].…”

“…There is an emerging consensus on wide distribution of neural networks between brain regions and the interactions vary based on cognitive states and requirements [22]. Robust functional connectivity between brain regions lacking direct structural connectivity has been shown to integrate complex cognitive functions like emotion and perception through a less understood 'connectomic complexity' [12,23].…”

Transformational Leadership and Knowledge Management: Analysing the Knowledge Management Models

“…In the same line of thought, Okon-Singer et al (2015) argue that a high level of negative emotionality can seriously reduce people's capabilities in changing and overcoming challenging situations. To describe this trichotomy, Tenbrunsel et al (2010, p.153) posit that "people predict that they will behave more ethically than they actually do, and when evaluating past (un)ethical behaviour, they believe they behaved more ethically than they actually did."…”