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Chapter 9 - What Is an Emotion?

from Part Three - What Happens in the Brain when Music Evokes Emotions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2025

Stefan Koelsch
Affiliation:
University of Bergen
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Summary

This chapter unpacks the complex nature of emotions, highlighting their multifaceted components: activity in affect systems, physiological changes, evaluations, motivations, attention, memory, and expression. The feeling cortex integrates these signals to form emotional percepts, shaping our subjective experiences. The chapter details the four biological components of feelings: affective, somatic, motor, and cognitive. It emphasizes the role of interoception, the perception of bodily states, in emotional awareness and well-being. Additionally, it explores the concept of emotional resonance, where music surpasses language in conveying emotions. Finally, the chapter examines the interplay between emotions and consciousness, explaining how conscious thought can influence and regulate our emotional responses. It underscores that understanding this complex interplay is crucial for harnessing music’s power to enhance emotional balance and well-being.

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Good Vibrations
Unlocking the Healing Power of Music
, pp. 195 - 202
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • What Is an Emotion?
  • Stefan Koelsch, University of Bergen
  • Book: Good Vibrations
  • Online publication: 01 May 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009366755.014
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  • What Is an Emotion?
  • Stefan Koelsch, University of Bergen
  • Book: Good Vibrations
  • Online publication: 01 May 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009366755.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • What Is an Emotion?
  • Stefan Koelsch, University of Bergen
  • Book: Good Vibrations
  • Online publication: 01 May 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009366755.014
Available formats
×