Repository | Journal | Volume | Articles
(2008) Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 7 (2).
With emotional motivation the organism prepares the body to obtain a goal. There is an anticipatory sensitization of the sensory systems in the body and the brain. Presynaptic facilitation of the sensory afference in the spinal cord is probably involved. In a second stage the higher centers develop an action image/plan to realize the goal, modifying the initial preparations in the body. The subject experiences the changes in the body as a feeling. Three empirical studies supporting this description are summarized. This description of how feelings develop from emotion circuits is discussed from a phenomenological viewpoint.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/s11097-007-9054-2
Full citation:
Lethin, A. (2008). Anticipating sensitizes the body. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 7 (2), pp. 279-300.
This document is unfortunately not available for download at the moment.