Cited by 1,006Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Emotion and the motivational brain

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Lang, Peter J., Bradley, Margaret M.·2010·Biological Psychology

Abstract

Psychophysiological and neuroscience studies of emotional processing undertaken by investigators at the University of Florida Laboratory of the Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention (CSEA) are reviewed, with a focus on reflex reactions, neural structures and functional circuits that mediate emotional expression. The theoretical view shared among the investigators is that expressed emotions are founded on motivational circuits in the brain that developed early in evolutionary history to ensure the survival of individuals and their progeny. These circuits react to appetitive and aversive environmental and memorial cues, mediating appetitive and defensive reflexes that tune sensory systems and mobilize the organism for action and underly negative and positive affects. The research reviewed here assesses the reflex physiology of emotion, both autonomic and somatic, studying affects evoked in picture perception, memory imagery, and in the context of tangible reward and punishment, and using the electroencephalograph (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), explores the brain's motivational circuits that determine human emotion.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.10.007

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Davis M Lang PJ Gallagher M Nelson RJ Emotion Handbook of Psychology 2003 Volume 3: Biological Psychology 405 439 Wiley New York
  2. Frijda NH The Emotions 1986 Cambridge New York
  3. Janise MP Pupillometry 1977 Wiley New York
  4. Miller NE Koch S Liberalization of basic S-R concepts: Extensions to conflict behavior, motivation and social learning Psychology: A study of a science 1959 Vol. 2 196 292 McGraw-Hill New York
  5. Tinbergen N The study of instincts 1951 Oxford Press New York

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Authors
Lang, P. J., & Bradley, M. M.
Affiliations
University of Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Lang, Peter J.
Venue
Biological Psychology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-07
Volume
84
Issue
3
Pages
437-450
ISSN
0301-0511 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2139570025
Cited by
1,006
References
95
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 75 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 59 · 2015: 77 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 42
FWCI
15.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biological Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (P50 MH-72850, P50MH072850)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
emotions, emotional expression, reflex physiology, reward and punishment, positive and negative affect, emotional processing, brain circuits, evolutionary psychology of emotion
MeSH terms
Attention, Brain, Computer Simulation, Electroencephalography, Emotions, Evoked Potentials, Habituation, Psychophysiologic, Humans, Models, Psychological, Motivation

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