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Chapter 3 - A Two-Way Road

Efferent and Afferent Pathways of Autonomic Activity in Emotion

from Section II - Measuring Emotional Responses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2013

By
Neil A. Harrison ,
Sylvia D. Kreibig  and
Hugo D. Critchley
Edited by
Jorge Armony  and
Patrik Vuilleumier
Jorge Armony
Affiliation:
McGill University, Montréal
Patrik Vuilleumier
Affiliation:
Université de Genève
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Summary

In the interaction of emotion and physiology, two important conceptualizations can be distinguished: efferent and afferent effects of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in emotion. Although the afferent and efferent definitions of emotional response are not mutually exclusive, the large majority of research on emotion has been based on the efferent conceptualization. This chapter draws on research findings in support of each conceptualization. It first considers the anatomy and central control of the ANS. The anatomical structure of the ANS and its central control constitute the basis for understanding autonomic effects of emotion. The chapter talks about neural feedback mechanisms, although hormonal, chemical, and physical feedback mechanisms may also operate through interactions with central components of this neural pathway. Various neural feedback mechanisms exist that allow for the transmission of information on homeostatic parameters. The exact nature and role of peripheral physiological responses to emotional feelings remain to be determined.
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Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience , pp. 82 - 106
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

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