88-120 Emotion and Cognition Group Presentation 2.3.00
Spike Katora
Justin Malakhou
Angela Wagner
Presentation Breakdown:
• Spike - General overview and introduction of topics, class reaction of presentation
topics.
• Angela – Focus on research supporting the view that emotion and cognition are tightly
integrated systems that require each other as a general rule.
• Justin – Focus on the more segmented school of thought that leading Neuroscientists
have adapted.
Presentation Overview:
• Presented by Spike
• Topics our presentation is examining
• Readings we’ll be discussing
• The specifics of what our presentation entails
• Background introduction / definitions
• Introduction of key viewpoints presented by Justin and Angela
Topics we will be covering:
• Are cognition and emotion separate systems?
• Do they require each other to function?
• Introduction to theories
• Comparison of viewpoints
Readings:
Clore, G. L. (1994). Why emotions require cognition. In P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 181-191).
New York: Oxford University Press.
Frijda, N. H. (1994). Emotions require cognitions, even if simple ones. In P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions
(pp. 197-202). New York: Oxford University Press.
LeDoux, J. E. (1994). Cognitive-emotional interactions in the brain. In P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions
(pp. 216-223). New York: Oxford University Press.
Panksepp, J. (1994). A proper distinction between affective and cognitive process is essential for neuroscientific progress. In P. Ekman & R. J. Davidson
(Eds.), The nature of emotion: Fundamental questions (pp. 224-226). New York: Oxford University Press
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What our presentation will cover:
• Summary of the main arguments of the articles
• Overview of the theoretical debates presented
• Description of how the phenomenon described might apply to real-world settings
• Critique of the reading
• How the material relates to lecture or larger course themes
A few quick definitions:
(courtesy of www.dictionary.com)
• emotion
1. An intense mental state that arises subjectively rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied
by physiological changes; a strong feeling: the emotions of joy, sorrow, reverence, hate, and love.
2. A state of mental agitation or disturbance: spoke unsteadily in a voice that betrayed his emotion. See Synonyms
at feeling.
3. The part of the consciousness that involves feeling; sensibility: “The very essence of literature is the war between
emotion and intellect” (Isaac Bashevis Singer).
• cognition
To know.
Integration of Emotion and Cognition
• Viewpoints, research, overview…
• Presented by Angela
Definition of cognition
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Cognition is conscious awareness
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Cognition is complex information processing
Definition of emotion
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Emotion involves focusing on an event and making an appraisal of that event
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Emotion is different from affect and mood primarily because of this appraisal
process
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Interaction of cognition and emotion
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The critical point in the interaction between emotion and cognition is the appraisal
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process. The appraisal process is a cognitive, and since emotion requires the
appraisal process by definition, emotion requires cognition
Clore presents an example of the appraisal process based on the focal point of the
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event and the valence of that focal point
Segmentation of Emotion and Cognition
• Viewpoints, research, overview…
• Presented by Justin
•
"Separate systems" definition of cognition (Ledoux) emphasizes cognition as a
category rather than an individual system
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•
Cognitive system includes sensory processing, perception, memory, etc...
"Separate systems" definition of emotion (Ledoux) emphasizes its components rather
than the system itself
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Specific emotions include: fear, anger, pleasure, etc...
Cognition and emotion are separate systems but coexist in such a way that one
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complements the other
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Panksepp argues that emotions require no cognitive inputs
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His studies were performed exclusively on lab rats
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Decorticated them within the first week of birth
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The decorticated rats displayed primarily "species-typical“ emotive energy (thus
they acted on a very basic emotional level, void of any high order emotive
processing abilities.)
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Proves that cognitive inputs are more strongly associated with lower level
emotions
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Ledoux also believes cognition and emotion to exist as separate systems
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Although the two "systems" perform different functions, emotional processing
requires cognitive input for stimulus transmission
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Cognition and emotion operate in parallel with each other
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High order, or voluntary emotions, help the individual cope with involuntary
emotions
Class reaction to content presented:
• General questions…
• Questions specific to Integration subject matter…
• Questions specific to Segmentation subject matter…
• Closing…
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