Module Overview:

  • This module explores the link between emotions and the body’s sensations.
  • It focuses on the automatic body responses associated with emotions.

Key Points:

  • Emotions and Body:
    • Body states influence emotions (e.g., feeling scared due to bungee jumping).
    • Some body states are voluntary (e.g., facial expressions), while others are automatic (e.g., heart rate increase).
    • The lecture focuses on automatic body states.
  • The “Chicken or the Egg” Debate:
    • A historical debate exists about whether emotions cause physical reactions or vice versa.
    • The lecture argues that emotions and body states likely work together (except in cases like panic attacks).
    • Both the brain and body contribute to a unified “body-brain-emotion” state.
  • Module Focus:
    • The module will primarily explore the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and their role in automatic body responses related to emotions. Autonomic Nervous System