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Embodied Perspective on Emotion-Cognition Interactions

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Mirror Neuron Systems

Part of the book series: Contemporary Neuroscience ((CNEURO))

Abstract

Emotions permeate social and non-social cognition. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. One reason is because traditional amodal or symbolic accounts of cognition view emotional information as equivalent to any other information. However, recent theories of embodied cognition suggest new ways to understand the processing of emotionally significant information. They suggest that both perceiving and thinking about such information involve perceptual, somatovisceral, and motoric reexperiences (embodiment) of the relevant emotion in the self. Consistent with this view, many studies show that processing of emotion recruits embodiments as reflected in psychological and psychological measures. Further, embodiment of emotion, even when induced by simple manipulations, such as facial expression, posture, or movement, can causally influence the processing of emotional information, including perception, learning, understanding, and use in language, judgment, and behavior. We review relevant studies and discuss potential neural mechanisms underlying embodiment and simulation. We especially highlight the importance of social context and flexible use of embodiment in emotional processing and discuss its importance for typical and atypical social functioning.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate discussions with Adam Aron, Larry Barsalou, Lisa Barrett, Thierry Chaminade, Vic Ferreira, Chris Frith, Celia Heyes, Dave Huber, Hal Pashler, Vilayanur Ramachandran, Cathy Reed, Norbert Schwarz, Gun Semin, Eliot Smith, and Robert Zajonc. This work is supported by NSF grant BCS-0350687 to Piotr Winkielman and Paula Niedenthal.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mailcode 0109, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA

    Piotr Winkielman

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  3. Lindsay M. Oberman
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    Jaime A. Pineda

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Winkielman, P., Niedenthal, P.M., Oberman, L.M. (2008). Embodied Perspective on Emotion-Cognition Interactions. In: Pineda, J.A. (eds) Mirror Neuron Systems. Contemporary Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-479-7_11

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