Emotions play a fundamental role in human psychology. They influence decisions, relationships and behavior.
This section explores the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying emotional processes.
Men and women do not experience emotions, social reactions, or intimate relationships in identical ways. Contemporary neuroscience shows that structural and functional differences in the brain are associated with distinct emotional styles. These variations do not confine either sex to a clinical category. Rather, they offer a more nuanced understanding of how the brain modulates…
For decades, neuroscience research has explored the boundaries between the brain and the body. How do thoughts, emotions, or stress influence heart rate, breathing, or digestion? While it was already known that certain brain regions, such as the hypothalamus or the brainstem, regulate internal bodily functions, the existence of a cortical relay capable of integrating…
Fear is an emotion we try to avoid in daily life, yet we eagerly seek it out in entertainment. Horror films, haunted houses, roller coasters, escape rooms — everywhere, humans put themselves face to face with imaginary dangers. But why do we take pleasure in shivering with fear? Since Darwin — who described a frightened…
Barefoot on warm sand, the sun reflecting on water, the rustle of leaves, birdsong, these sensory experiences trigger an immediate sense of relief. They reveal a deep interaction between the brain and the natural world, a sensory synergy that modulates both cognitive and emotional functions. While cities flood our senses with artificial stimuli and relentless…
We’ve all experienced it, leaving a room feeling inexplicably lighter, simply because the atmosphere was cheerful. Or conversely, entering a space where something felt off, an invisible tension lingering in the air, and suddenly feeling uneasy without knowing why. What others feel, in a strange and almost magical way, ends up affecting us. But why…