Being human comes with the incomparable experience of feeling emotions. Emotions are complex and intricate systems, which we have never truly understood. In the 1970s anthropologist Paul Ekman proposed that we have 6 basic emotions – anger, fear, surprise, disgust, joy, and sadness. Other emotions are said to be a combination of these basic emotions.

But as we have evolved, our emotions evolve with us. As scientists debate over the number of emotions and how to define our feelings, one thing can be said for sure – emotions are intertwined with neuroscience. Emotions aren’t just a psychological aspect in our being but can be connected to the anatomical and physiological aspects of human life.

The primary organ which is linked with emotions is the amygdala. The amygdala is a small pear shaped structure in the brain which focuses on emotions, behavior, and motivation. It’s also important for learning, focusing on classical conditioning. The amygdala is responsible for interpreting our emotions and helping in identifying social rewards.

Other structures in the brain that are linked with emotions are the insula and the periaqueductal gray (a structure in the midbrain). The insula delves in the emotion of disgust. It also increases activity when our body is susceptible to pain. According to ongoing research, the insula generates emotions based on the physiological surrounding and state of the body.

The periaqueductal gray is also linked to pain perception. It contains receptors that reduce pain. It is also responsible for coping mechanisms to avoid the emotions related to pain. It is also said to be involved in defense mechanisms and anxiety.

Along with these structures, our limbic system is very much involved with emotions and their processing. The limbic system includes:

• Hypothalamus: controls emotional responses, release of hormones and regulates body temperature
• Hippocampus: closely associated with memory retention and preservation
• Amygdala: associated with most of the 6 basic emotions
• Limbic Cortex: impacts mood and motivation

The brain and our emotions are definitely integrated into each other but we still have to discover more about this topic as we delve into complex emotions.