Emotional Processing and Emotional Processing Disorders

Introduction

The discipline of neuropsychology is one of the most interesting branches of psychology. It is particularly concerned with the appropriate functioning of the brain and the nervous system and how this translates into cognitive perception and behavioral actions. Emotional processing is one of the duties of the brain which is identified as the numerous background activities that occur when one encounters an emotionally distressing situation. Usually, the individual is capable of processing a negative event successfully without cause for alarm or future repercussions. It is concerning when an individual is unable to process emotions. These may include cases of fear, trauma, sadness, anxiety and other negative emotional feelings. The brain is at the core of processing all information and data received through the senses which is immediately conveyed to the brain and a reaction is delivered in response. However, when an individual experiences a situation that calls for an emotional reaction and one is not portrayed it is a major cause of alarm. In the field of neuropsychology, the experts use their training to identify ways in which brain injuries or illnesses can affect the cognitive functioning and behavioral outcome of a person. The following paper will discuss some of these disorders along with the significant biological causes and the most appropriate treatment efforts of the same.

Model of Emotional Processing

There is a distinct system that is involved in emotional processing. The emotional process begins with an input event taking place. These are the occurrences that prompt various emotions and feelings including hurting, sadness, and embarrassment among others (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). The following step in the processing of emotions is identified as the appraisal of the event. This approach is considered the point where a particular event is given meaning usually by the unconscious mind and at a rapid rate. In the appraisal process, the past memories schemas play an important role in the meaning a current event will be given (Tranel, Gullickson, Koch, & Adolphs, 2006). The schemas are based on the past memory experiences and the level of cognition development. However, it is noted as problematic if an individual does not respond to or register important events. It is concerning as this action creates a block in experiencing the emotion. On the other hand, excessive encounter of feeling emotions may result from an exaggerated input where every level of gesture or remark is depicted as a threat to the individual (Tranel et al., 2006). An interpersonal event may be a critical factor that stirs up emotions. It may be as small as criticism or as critical as a traumatic experience in war or it may be ongoing like a stressful relationship. 

It is after this occurrence that the individual records the input event as a memory of the past. Significant meaning is attached to a given input event, the individual begins to encounter an emotional experience through four stages (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). There is the gestalt experience where the emotions are felt as a whole and not the individual components that are associated with it. If one experiences anger it is this emotion that is felt and not the clenching of fists, slight breaking of sweat, increased tension or gnashing of teeth (Tranel et al., 2006). The second stage is awareness is depicted as the point where the individual is aware that he or she is experiencing a certain emotion and the significant physiological components associated with the emotion. Labeling is yet another part of emotional experience where an individual can label the feeling taking place (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). Though it may not occur consciously at the very given moment of experience he or she can do it when exploring their feelings. The final stage is linking the emotion to the event that causes it. If an individual cannot label correctly or is not aware of the emotions makes it difficult to link events to their corresponding emotions (Tranel et al., 2006). 

The final step of emotional processing is its expression. In this case, every individual has a natural drive to portray the negative feelings that are encountered. The expression may be through behavior, vocal or verbal techniques. The process may be direct or indirect and in some cases private where the individual expresses sadness through music or dance (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). Some techniques of expressing emotion may be constructive such as when an individual faces the person who has hurt them and discusses the issue in a civil manner. Alternatively, it may be destructive or self-defeating where alcohol or drug abuse is used to cope with the issue (Tranel et al., 2006). Though the process from input to experience to expression is a natural reaction, an individual learns different ways of taking control though some cases may be harmful. Such strategies include changing the input setting that leads to unpleasant emotions, another could be taking control of the experience itself such as a complete squashing of the feeling or taking control of the expression where despite feeling angered one does not go about hurting other people (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). 

Biological Aspects Associated with Emotional Processing

There are numerous parts of the nervous system incorporated in the emotion processing. Emotions triggered by the external stimulus are picked up by the sensory systems which in turn play a major role in the identification of the feeling. In some cases, the individuals will usually trigger emotions due to episodic memories. The physiological components associated with an emotion significantly involve the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This is a primary division of the peripheral nervous system where it is made of the sympathetic and parasympathetic (Townsend, & Altshuler, 2012). It is evident that the emotional processing is closely associated with biological systems taking effect. In this case, the sympathetic system prompts the individual to engage in fight or flight while the parasympathetic incorporates the rest or digest. In this regard, it is evident that the motor and sensory neurons extend from the ANS to the different parts of the body like the limbs, heart, lungs, bladder and even the sexual organs (Tranel et al., 2006). The hypothalamus is responsible for the regulation of the ANS, however, it is only a small part of the limbic system involved in the processing of emotional data.

The Limbic System

The limbic system is a set of brain structures that work together in an effort to support various function. They include emotion, long-term memory, motivation and behavior. The processing of emotion undergoes nearly all of its stages in the limbic system. Through these stages, it plays a major role in creating memories that are remembered for a long time. It is important to note that the limbic system is not a separate brain structure but a set of different parts of the brain. The following parts are involved in the emotional process. 

Amygdala

The amygdala is an integral part of the limbic system that coordinates numerous cognitive processes that are depicted to influence the emotional process. In this case, the amygdala is associated with the encoding, storage and retrieval of the episodic-autobiographical memory. Therefore, when an emotion is triggered by an external stimulus, the amygdala is able to associate the feeling with a previously occurring emotion. The memories of the past are linked to the emotion that is felt at the moment. The mnemonic events that are of certain emotional significance are successfully searched in the neural networks and re-activated by the encountered stimulus. 

Other than the memory processes, the amygdala is also essential in the attentional and emotional processes. In this regard, this part of the limbic system focuses on particular stimuli while others are ignored or overlooked (Townsend, & Altshuler, 2012). In particular, the stimuli of fear are recorded and stored in this region such that its occurrence in the future causes immediate reaction to protect the body from harm. This structure upon further research was depicted to incorporate the creation of granule cells essential in neurogenesis. The cells are also important in processes performed in the hippocampus such as learning and strengthening of spatial memory. As a result, if the cells generated were to malfunction, the individual would experience a low level of emotional functioning such that they could develop mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders (Townsend, & Altshuler, 2012).

Furthermore, the amygdala is responsible for social processing an important function of emotional processing. In this case, the individual is depicted to have significant ability in the evaluation of facial expressions (Adolphs, Tranel, Damasio, & Damasio, 1994). The amygdala enables the brain to detect the trustworthiness or threat posed by an individual. Damages encountered in the amygdala could result in significant confusion between trust and betrayal. In addition to this, the ability to decode facial expressions, the region can effectively associate the first impressions presented by an interpersonal encounter such that its depiction provides intense association with the real-world outcomes. 

Hippocampus

The hippocampus is another part of the limbic system that integral to the spatial memory. This refers to the memory that allows the individual to record data associated with the environment and spatial orientation. For instance, the individual is able develop spatial history of familiar areas of a town associated with safety and security. In this case, when an individual walk in deserted streets that he or she has never gone through a feeling of fear may arise (Adolphs, Baron-Cohen, & Tranel, 2002). There are numerous sub-regions in the hippocampus which are involved in the formation of spatial memory including dorsal hippocampus, left hippocampus and the parahippocampal region. 

The dorsal hippocampus is associated with the generation of adult-borne granule cells which are created during adolescence and adulthood years. The new neurons created enable the individual to form stronger memories due to increased or better communication in cell networks. In this regard, memories that are closely attached to intense emotions can easily be remembered (Kumfor, & Piguet, 2012). It is depicted that the left hippocampus is responsible for the retrieval of these spatial memories. However, this is not the only function as research has shown that the left hippocampus is responsible for binding different memory segments together though they are located in other parts of the brain. As a result, it ensures they can easily be recalled at a later time.

As mentioned earlier, spatial memory is an integral part of the hippocampal part of the brain. As a result, significant damage or injury that is sustained in this region causes inability to gain effective recall of the spatial memory. Researchers have found that the occurrence of high emotional arousal creates a situation that memory dependent of the hippocampus will be impaired (Kumfor, & Piguet, 2012). This damage can occur if the individual in question is subjected to drugs or substances that significantly cause anxiety. As a result, the impaired hippocampus will affect the recall function of the spatial memory. Prolonged exposure to the hormones associated with stress could disrupt explicit memory. This is one of the long-term memories which is a conscious collection of experiences with significant facts associated to it. According to research, once damage has taken effect on the hippocampus, the individual is less likely to remember important emotional memories.

Cingulate Gyrus

This part of the limbic system is closely associated with the receiving of inputs from the thalamus. It is involved in the processes of formation of emotion, processing of the same and learning and memory. The anterior cingulated gyrus is depicted as the integral part of the brain that is able to recognize sadness. 

Thalamus

Emotional Processing Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

As previously mentioned, the emotional processing is a natural reaction that is applicable in all individuals. However, there are cases where this process is uncontrollable of dysfunctional. The presence of the mental disorder is creating an impaired processing of the emotions that one feels.

References

Adolphs, R., Baron-Cohen, S., & Tranel, D. (2002). Impaired recognition of social emotions following amygdala damage. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 14(8), 1264-1274.

Adolphs, R., Tranel, D., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. (1994). Impaired recognition of emotion in facial expressions following bilateral damage to the human amygdala. Nature , 372(6507), 669.

Gazzaniga, M. S., Ivry, R. B. & Mangun, G. R. (2014) Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind . New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 

Kumfor, F., & Piguet, O. (2012). Disturbance of emotion processing in frontotemporal dementia: a synthesis of cognitive and neuroimaging findings. Neuropsychology review , 22(3), 280-297.

Tranel, D., Gullickson, G., Koch, M., & Adolphs, R. (2006). Altered experience of emotion following bilateral amygdala damage. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry , 11, 219-232.

Townsend, J., & Altshuler, L. L. (2012). Emotion processing and regulation in bipolar disorder: a review. Bipolar disorders , 14(4), 326-339.