Brain Curiosities: Emotions

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Emotions are a complex phenomenon, intrinsically linked to our life experiences, and can influence the way we perceive and respond to our internal states and the surrounding world.

Many factors can affect our emotions and just as many curiosities and mysteries concern the emotional sphere.

Here are 18 curiosities that (maybe) you didn’t know about emotions:

1). Facial expressions commonly associated with basic emotions, such as smiling, wide-eyed surprise, or grimacing in disgust, are the same around the world, suggesting a universal biological basis for emotional communication (for further information on basic emotions click here);

2). Music has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to relief, to sadness, thanks to its ability to influence the limbic system;

3). Sleep deprivation can increase emotional reactivity, in particular susceptibility to negative emotions.

4). Some smells have the power to evoke memories and emotions. This phenomenon is supported by the involvement of brain structures, such as the amygdala, which play a crucial role in associating smells with past experiences and moods;

5). Our brain contains mirror neurons that allow us to tune into the emotions of others and experience empathy (for further information on mirror neurons and their discovery click here);

6). Pets, such as dogs and cats, can positively influence people’s emotional state, reducing stress and increasing happiness.

7). The so-called social emotions are emotions that have a social function, helping to establish and maintain bonds between individuals. Some examples include love and empathy playing a key role in building a network of meaningful relationships;

8). In newborns, the “Moro reflex” is an innate response to sudden stimuli, such as the feeling of falling. This reflex is associated with primitive emotions of surprise and fear;

9). Some studies suggest that there are universal associations between colours and emotions, such as red associated with situations of anger or passion;

10). Emotionally charged events are often better remembered than neutral events, a phenomenon known as “emotional memory.” Moreover, some research suggests that negative emotions, such as fear, have a stronger impact on memory than positive emotions;

11). Emotional chromotherapy practitioners believe that certain colours can positively influence the emotional state;

12). Pseudobulbar Syndrome, also known as emotional lability, is a neurological condition that causes uncontrolled and inappropriate laughing or crying, regardless of the actual emotion;

13). The Emotional Placebo Effect occurs when people experience improvements in mood following the intake of an ineffective substance or treatment described as beneficial simply because they believe it has therapeutic properties;

14). The Duchenne Smile is a genuine smile that involves both the muscles of the mouth and those of the eyes and is considered an indicator of authentic joy;

15). The emotions we feel influence language. For example, in fearful situations, we tend to use simpler language, reflecting the cognitive priority over the essential.

16). Neuromarketing, which is based on neuroscience principles to predict how the brain responds to marketing stimuli and how this directs purchasing decisions, largely exploits the influence of emotions in the design of products and advertising;

17). According to the Zeigarnik Effect, interrupted and incomplete activities create greater emotional tension and a stronger memory than completed ones;

18). The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a psychophysiological relaxation response characterised by tingling and/or shivering induced by visual, auditory, and/or tactile stimuli.

13). The Emotional Placebo Effect occurs when people experience improvements in mood following the intake of an ineffective substance or treatment described as beneficial simply because they believe it has therapeutic properties;