3.5.10 Emotion

Emotion and its Regulation Including Relevance to Mood Disorders, Psychosis and Emotional Instability

Emotion is a complex psychological and physiological experience that is mediated by multiple neural circuits in the brain.

The amygdala is a complex brain region that is involved in the processing and regulation of emotions. It is located in the temporal lobe of the brain and is composed of several nuclei that are involved in different aspects of emotional processing. One important function of the amygdala is the rapid evaluation of emotionally relevant stimuli. It receives inputs from various sensory systems, such as the visual and auditory systems, and is involved in the rapid detection and interpretation of emotional stimuli.

The amygdala is also involved in the consolidation of emotional memories. It receives inputs from the hippocampus, which is involved in the formation of new memories and is involved in the encoding and storage of emotionally salient memories. The amygdala also plays a role in the expression of emotions. It is involved in the modulation of emotional behaviours and can influence the production of facial expressions and vocalizations that are associated with different emotional states.

The amygdala is an important brain region that is involved in the processing and regulation of emotions, and it plays a key role in the experience and expression of emotions. Dysfunctions in the amygdala and its connections to other brain regions may contribute to disruptions in emotional processing and regulation, which can be a feature of various mental disorders.

Other brain regions involved in emotion include the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and learning; the insula, which is involved in the experience of feelings and emotions; and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is involved in the regulation of emotions.

Emotion in mood disorders:

Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are characterized by disruptions in mood and emotion. These disorders are associated with dysfunctions in the neural circuits involved in emotion processing and regulation, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and reward system.

For example, in depression, there is often dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in the regulation of emotions. This dysfunction may lead to difficulty regulating emotions and may contribute to the negative mood states that are characteristic of depression. Additionally, people with depression often have deficits in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in the regulation of mood and emotion.

In bipolar disorder, there are often disruptions in the brain’s reward system, which is involved in the experience of pleasure and reward, and in the amygdala, which is involved in the processing of emotions. These disruptions may contribute to the extreme mood swings and emotional instability that are characteristic of this disorder. Bipolar disorder is also associated with abnormal activity in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and learning, and with changes in the function and structure of the prefrontal cortex (Drevets, 2008).

Emotion in psychosis:

Psychosis is a term used to describe a group of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviours. Psychosis can be a symptom of various mental disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Dysfunctions in the neural circuits involved in emotion processing and regulation may contribute to the development and maintenance of psychosis.

For example, people with schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by psychosis, often have deficits in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is involved in the experience of pleasure and reward. This deficiency may contribute to the decreased motivation and pleasure that are often observed in people with schizophrenia. Additionally, people with schizophrenia often have abnormalities in the structure and function of the amygdala, which is involved in the processing of emotions, and the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in the regulation of emotions. These abnormalities may contribute to the abnormal emotional responses and emotional instability that are often observed in people with schizophrenia.

Other brain regions that may be involved in the development and maintenance of psychosis include the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and learning, and the thalamus, which is involved in the relay of sensory information to the cortex. Dysfunctions in these brain regions may contribute to the abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviours that are characteristic of psychosis (Gonzalez-Blanch, 2018).

Emotion in emotional instability:

Emotional instability, also known as emotional lability or labile affect, refers to a tendency to experience rapid and frequent changes in mood and emotional states. It is thought to be mediated by dysfunctions in the neural circuits involved in emotion regulation and mood, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral striatum. Emotional instability is often associated with certain mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, and understanding the neural circuits involved may be relevant to the understanding and treatment of these disorders (Golkar, 2019).

References:

(1) Drevets, W. C., Price, J. L., & Furey, M. L. (2008). Brain structural and functional abnormalities in mood disorders: Implications for neurocircuitry models of depression. Brain Structure and Function, 213(1-2), 93-118.

(2) Golkar, A., Lindström, M., Flyckt, L., Stawicki, S., Kuja-Halkola, R., & Sundquist, J. (2019). Emotional instability and risk of mental disorders: A register-based cohort study. Psychological Medicine, 49(5), 829-839.

(3) Gonzalez-Blanch, C., & Collip, D. (2018). The role of emotional processing in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 84, 522-534.