2014

Edmund T. Rolls

Emotion and Decision-Making Explained 

Available now for free download

To illustrate the principles of operation of some neuronal networks involved in emotion:

Neuronal Network Simulation Software

Discussion Forum: Virtual Special Issue of Cortex


Emotion and Decision-Making Cover

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Contents

Review in Brain

Discussion Forum in Cortex: Precis

Discussion Forum in Cortex: Response

Discussion Forum in Cortex: Virtual Special Issue of Cortex

Neuronal Network Simulation Software

Emotion and Decision-Making Explained.pdf

Eve

Emotion and Decision-Making Explained
Oxford University Press.
ISBN 978-0-19-965989-0

What produces emotions?
Why do we have emotions?
How do we have emotions?
Why do emotional states feel like something?
What is the relation between emotion, reward value, and subjective feelings of pleasure?
How is the value of a good represented in the brain?
Will neuroeconomics replace classical microeconomics?
How does the brain implement emotion and decision-making?
Are gene-defined rewards and emotions in the interests of the genes?
Does rational multistep planning enable us to go beyond selfish genes to plans in the interests of the individual? 

This book seeks explanations of emotion and decision-making by considering these questions.

The book provides a unified approach to emotion, reward value, economic value, and decision-making, and their brain mechanisms. The evolutionary, adaptive value of the processes involved in emotion, the neural networks involved in emotion and decision-making, and the issue of conscious emotional feelings are all considered.

 The topics covered include:

The nature of emotion, and a theory of emotion

The functions of emotion, including a Darwinian theory of the adaptive value of emotion, which helps to illuminate many aspects of brain design and behaviour

The brain mechanisms of emotion

Affective states and motivated behaviour: hunger and sexual behaviour

The pharmacology of emotion, and brain mechanisms for action

Neuroeconomics, and the foundation of economic value

Decision-making

Emotional feelings, and consciousness

Neural networks involved in emotion

Emotion and Decision-Making Explained will be valuable for those in the fields of neuroscience, neurology, psychology, psychiatry, biology, animal behaviour, economics, and philosophy from the advanced undergraduate level upwards, and for all interested in emotion and decision-making.

The picture on the cover is ‘Adam and Eve’ painted in c. 1528 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, which provides an early interpretation of early human emotions, and emotion-related decision-making. This book provides a more recent, scientific, approach to emotions, and to decision-making.